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NHS learns lessons of war | NHS learns lessons of war |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By Ray Furlong Radio 4's PM programme It is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties Duncan Phimister, former field hospital commander | By Ray Furlong Radio 4's PM programme It is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties Duncan Phimister, former field hospital commander |
Territorial Army medical personnel who have served in Afghanistan are now using key techniques they learned there to help save lives in the NHS. | Territorial Army medical personnel who have served in Afghanistan are now using key techniques they learned there to help save lives in the NHS. |
Adam Brooks works a red, gooey gel into his hands and rubs them hard under the warm flow of water. | Adam Brooks works a red, gooey gel into his hands and rubs them hard under the warm flow of water. |
A consultant trauma surgeon at Queen's Medical Centre hospital in Nottingham, he is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, and spent the summer treating battlefield injuries at Camp Bastion, in Helmand province. | A consultant trauma surgeon at Queen's Medical Centre hospital in Nottingham, he is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, and spent the summer treating battlefield injuries at Camp Bastion, in Helmand province. |
"Here we are looking after people from motor vehicle crashes, while there we were looking after people who have been hit by roadside bombs. | "Here we are looking after people from motor vehicle crashes, while there we were looking after people who have been hit by roadside bombs. |
"But they are all injured and they need a similar sort of approach," he explained. | "But they are all injured and they need a similar sort of approach," he explained. |
"The experience I have had, that we have brought back to Nottingham, is saving lives. | "The experience I have had, that we have brought back to Nottingham, is saving lives. |
"We're improving people's care," he said. | "We're improving people's care," he said. |
Shortly after talking to me, Lt Col Brooks begins a six-hour operation to remove cancerous tissue from a patient's liver. | Shortly after talking to me, Lt Col Brooks begins a six-hour operation to remove cancerous tissue from a patient's liver. |
It is very different from bomb and bullet wounds, but even here, lessons from Afghanistan can make a difference. | It is very different from bomb and bullet wounds, but even here, lessons from Afghanistan can make a difference. |
Matron Moira Kane: "I would dearly like to go back to Afghanistan" | |
"Some of the techniques we have learnt and developed within the military can be transposed across, even to the elective, non-trauma work I'm doing - specifically looking at how we transfuse blood, the volumes that we use, and the products that we use," Lt Col Brooks said. | "Some of the techniques we have learnt and developed within the military can be transposed across, even to the elective, non-trauma work I'm doing - specifically looking at how we transfuse blood, the volumes that we use, and the products that we use," Lt Col Brooks said. |
David Willis, a paramedic who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland during the troubles, has also learned similar lessons | David Willis, a paramedic who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland during the troubles, has also learned similar lessons |
He said: "We use a lot of warm blood products and keep our patients warm, even in the heat of Afghanistan, and it helps their recovery. | He said: "We use a lot of warm blood products and keep our patients warm, even in the heat of Afghanistan, and it helps their recovery. |
"So hopefully we'll take that on board and keep our patients warm here too - even on a hot summer's day." | "So hopefully we'll take that on board and keep our patients warm here too - even on a hot summer's day." |
Moira Kane, matron on A&E and two other wards at George Elliott Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, served alongside Lt Col Brooks in Afghanistan. | Moira Kane, matron on A&E and two other wards at George Elliott Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, served alongside Lt Col Brooks in Afghanistan. |
She commanded the emergency department at Camp Bastion during operation Panther's Claw, when fighting was at its most intense. | She commanded the emergency department at Camp Bastion during operation Panther's Claw, when fighting was at its most intense. |
She said it gave a massive boost to her abilities to lead and organise her teams. | She said it gave a massive boost to her abilities to lead and organise her teams. |
"The doctor spends six weeks out there, and they said that was equivalent to about five years within an average NHS trauma unit. | "The doctor spends six weeks out there, and they said that was equivalent to about five years within an average NHS trauma unit. |
Camp Bastion hospital staff have to deal with large numbers of casualties | Camp Bastion hospital staff have to deal with large numbers of casualties |
"It's probably about the same for us. It is incredible. | "It's probably about the same for us. It is incredible. |
"But you get these soldiers in at eight to 12 at a time, whereas here, if someone comes off a motorbike, you get only one patient," she said. | "But you get these soldiers in at eight to 12 at a time, whereas here, if someone comes off a motorbike, you get only one patient," she said. |
The steep learning curve is also underlined by Duncan Phimister. Now retired, he commanded 202 Field Hospital - Moira Kane's unit - during its last Afghan tour. | The steep learning curve is also underlined by Duncan Phimister. Now retired, he commanded 202 Field Hospital - Moira Kane's unit - during its last Afghan tour. |
"There are casualties coming into the hospital and it is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties. | "There are casualties coming into the hospital and it is almost pandemonium the first couple of times because there is such a deluge of really severe casualties. |
"But you can see people growing, developing, and dealing with these situations as if they are normal almost within a few weeks," Mr Phimister said. | "But you can see people growing, developing, and dealing with these situations as if they are normal almost within a few weeks," Mr Phimister said. |
During her time at Bastion, Moira Kane did not have a single day off. She said it had been hard to adjust to work back in Nuneaton. | During her time at Bastion, Moira Kane did not have a single day off. She said it had been hard to adjust to work back in Nuneaton. |
"It's a little frustrating initially, because there you have a military ethos and a rank structure, so if you ask for something to be done it invariably gets done. | "It's a little frustrating initially, because there you have a military ethos and a rank structure, so if you ask for something to be done it invariably gets done. |
"Within the NHS, that is not quite so. | "Within the NHS, that is not quite so. |
"I can't demand staff do something - though they sometimes think I do, I'm sure," Moira said. | "I can't demand staff do something - though they sometimes think I do, I'm sure," Moira said. |
Medics say blood transfusion lessons have enhanced their work for the NHS | Medics say blood transfusion lessons have enhanced their work for the NHS |
Roughly about 100 NHS staff have passed through Camp Bastion this year, at times making up two-thirds of the medical personnel there. | Roughly about 100 NHS staff have passed through Camp Bastion this year, at times making up two-thirds of the medical personnel there. |
Peter Barrett, chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said reservists were a valuable resource which the NHS was not doing enough to make use of. | Peter Barrett, chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said reservists were a valuable resource which the NHS was not doing enough to make use of. |
"These are very special people. | "These are very special people. |
"The teamwork, the skills, the environment in which they work gives them enormous benefits to the NHS when they come back and I think we're patchy about picking that up," he said. | "The teamwork, the skills, the environment in which they work gives them enormous benefits to the NHS when they come back and I think we're patchy about picking that up," he said. |
"The reservists are quite reserved themselves in blowing their own trumpets when they come back. | "The reservists are quite reserved themselves in blowing their own trumpets when they come back. |
"Often they just want to keep their heads down and get on with the day job. I think we have got a lot to learn really. We should celebrate what they have experienced and use those experiences." | "Often they just want to keep their heads down and get on with the day job. I think we have got a lot to learn really. We should celebrate what they have experienced and use those experiences." |
In Nottingham, Mr Barrett has introduced an annual veterans' dinner, and a "welcome back" interview where staff returning from deployment share the experiences and training they have received. | In Nottingham, Mr Barrett has introduced an annual veterans' dinner, and a "welcome back" interview where staff returning from deployment share the experiences and training they have received. |
"We can then put that into their job plans for the future and their promotion prospects or their work within teams," he said. | "We can then put that into their job plans for the future and their promotion prospects or their work within teams," he said. |
Elsewhere, medical practitioners are organising their own events, so the key skills being brought back home can be shared more widely. | Elsewhere, medical practitioners are organising their own events, so the key skills being brought back home can be shared more widely. |
You can hear Ray Furlong's full report on PM, Thursday 17 December at 1700 GMT on Radio 4 or listen via BBC iplayer. | You can hear Ray Furlong's full report on PM, Thursday 17 December at 1700 GMT on Radio 4 or listen via BBC iplayer. |
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