2021 Lukluk (VSA) - Magazine - Page 21
Life as an Emergency Doctor
Having worked in Emergency
Departments for many years, Dr
Mandy Masters is the ideal doctor
to be onsite at Northern Provincial
Hospital Luganville, developing
procedures and training to make
the department run efficiently.
Mr Jonathan Masters is on a
surgical volunteer assignment
and has been training theatre
staff and whole hospital
Continued Medical Education
(CME) on new operations,
along with performing urological
surgeries with the local surgeons.
Unfortunately, the stark reality
is that it takes time to acquire
resources and expertise. In the
meantime, the local situation is
confronting. Santo is still struggling
with the aftermath of Tropical
Cyclone Harold and COVID-19 has
stalled much of the international
aid and trade. The roads are full of
potholes and for people from the
north and the interior, a journey
may involve a horse trek and a
boat ride just to get to a road.
The journey to the hospital can be
days so people present late in the
disease process.
Mandy and Jonathan seeing patients
together with Senior Nurse Mary
Mandy and Jonathan have been
unpacking equipment donations
and new monitors are now on
stands, and a new defibrillator
means people with a cardiac arrest
can be shocked if needed. Mandy’s
teaching sessions with ambulance
staff have shown them how to
resuscitate people at the scene.
“I turned up to Mandy’s session”
Jonathan says “and she had me
doing chest compressions on a
mannequin! (which is hot work in
Vanuatu)” Mandy is also working
with a team of junior doctors to
help prepare them before they
work in more peripheral hospitals.
Her Tuesday training sessions are
now well known and nurses from
other wards also participate.
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