October 11, 2010
Monday 11 October 2010
Curragh camp in Co.Kildare was the location for the first cross border Specialist Advanced Trauma and Life Support course on the island of Ireland held recently. This course provided specialist training to health service doctors and medical personnel, some of whom are military reservists. The training covered the management of sudden and severe trauma and can be applied in such settings as at the scene of major medical emergencies, natural disasters at home and abroad and UN supported peace operations in areas of conflict around the world. In total 25 medical personnel, from both Northern Ireland and the Republic, participated in the intensive 3-day course which saw them deal with a series of practical, hands-on, realistic emergency scenarios specifically created for training purposes – the type of situations that participants would be likely to come across at the scene of an actual major medical emergency. Although the course was undertaken in a military setting many of the skills practiced can be applied in both health settings and medical emergency situations.
The event was sponsored by the cross border health services partnership, Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) and organised in partnership with the Department of Health and Children, Department of Defence, Defence Forces Ireland Medical Corps and the 204 TA (North Irish) Field Hospital.
From left: Tom Daly, Corporate Services, HSE; Bernie McCrory, Chief Officer, CAWT cross border health services partnership, Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children and Colm Donaghy, Director General, CAWT
At the Cross border Advanced Trauma and Life Support course held in the Curragh Camp in Kildare. From left: Alan Moore, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Dr Iain Moles, GP based in Saintfield, Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children; Col. Gerry Kerr, Director of the Medical Corps, Defence Forces Ireland and Colm Donaghy, Director General, CAWT cross border health services partnership.
The Minister for Health and Children, Ms Mary Harney T.D., who spoke at the successful cross border course, said: “I want to acknowledge the work that went into planning and managing this highly specialist training course. Once again CAWT, the cross border health services partnership, has brought together medical personnel from both North and South to train together. Ultimately this course has strengthened the skills of clinicians and doctors who now are better prepared to manage an acute trauma situation whether at home or abroad.”
Director General of CAWT, Colm Donaghy, commenting on the event said: “Training opportunities like this are extremely important because they enable our doctors and health care professionals from both sides of the border to engage in practical ‘hands on’ trauma management situations which are as realistic as possible. Our support for this event is just part of the work of the CAWT cross border partnership, which comprises the health services in both jurisdictions, including the Health Service Executive. Our role is to improve access to health services and to facilitate greater integration between both health services in the border area.”
Speaking on behalf of the Defence Forces Ireland, Col. Gerry Kerr, Director of the Medical Corps said: “The recently run Specialist Advanced Trauma and Life Support Course provided invaluable training for our doctors in the area of emergency care treatment. The instruction that was provided used the most up to date, evidence-based clinical data. This course forms part of the overall training in primary care, occupational health and emergency care that we aim to provide for our doctors.”
– Ends –
At the Cross border Advanced Trauma and Life Support course held in the Curragh Camp in Kildare.
From left: Tom Daly, Corporate Services, HSE; Bernie McCrory, Chief Officer, CAWT cross border health services partnership, Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children and Colm Donaghy, Director General, CAWT
At the Cross border Advanced Trauma and Life Support course held in the Curragh Camp in Kildare. From left: Alan Moore, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Dr Iain Moles, GP based in Saintfield, Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children; Col. Gerry Kerr, Director of the Medical Corps, Defence Forces Ireland and Colm Donaghy, Director General, CAWT cross border health services partnership.
Contacts
Sadie Bergin
Communications Manager, Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT)
Tel: 028 71 272100 / 048 71 272100 (from Republic of Ireland)
Mob: 077 64204430 / 00 44 77 64204430 (from Republic of Ireland)
Email: sadie.bergin@westerntrust.hscni.net
Notes to Editor
1. Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) is a cross border health and social care partnership comprising the border counties of the Health Service Executive in the Republic of Ireland and the Southern and Western Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland. The Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland are also partners. CAWT is managing a range of cross border health and social care programmes, part financed by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA cross-border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
2. Since 2007 CAWT has co-ordinated four separate major medical emergency planning exercises /Advanced Life Support courses in the border region which provided health services staff from both jurisdictions with practical opportunities to work together so that their readiness for a real medical emergency is further enhanced.