2019 "BETWEEN a rock and a hard place" PCP Conference:
It has been a long time in the making!
Our PCP Conference Lead, Jonas, had the amazing opportunity of organising our two day conference event "Between a Rock and a Hard Place". Alongside Jonas, there were a group of dedicated conference committee members, volunteers and helpers to help run the whole event. This included designing the scenarios to making sure we had enough tea/coffee/food during our lunch break. It was a successful event and many congratulations for those involved. We received some good feedback from all those that attended and any improvements suggested will be implemented for our future events.
Details of both days will be described below with some great pictures from the weekend.
Saturday 6th April 2019
We started early in the morning setting up the Pathology Museum and lecture theatre for the arrival of our conference delegates with some arriving as early as 8:30 on the dot.
First Speaker: Dr Mike Christian MD, MSc (Public Health), FRCPC Senior Research Lead, Clinical Effectiveness Lead, HEMS Doctor: London’s Air Ambulance & Bart’s Health NHS
Dr Christian spoke about responses to terrorism in regards to HEMS and within hospital. Another major aspect was about the role of bystanders in assisting those that may have been injured for example in the London Bridge attack.
Second Speaker: Surgeon Commander Kate Prior MBBS, MRCS, FRCA, DipRTM Surgeon Commander, Royal Navy, Consultant in Anaesthetics and Major Trauma, King’s College Hospital Consultant Advisor Maritime; MERT Training Programme Director South East School of Anaesthesia
Commander Prior spoke about how “you can’t save them all,” how one can manage poor patient outcomes and what you can learn from these. Another great point was the idea of having a critical friend and not a critic.
Third Speaker: Andy Barrett, Police Officer
Andy spoke specifically about the policing side of major incidences with some examples and the role of Police Medics. Craig Cassidy LAS
Fourth and final speaker of: Paramedic and PCP Lead Paramedic
Our very own PCP Lead Paramedic spoke about the 7/7 attack, discussed the difficult environment he worked in, the effect of bandwidth and how it can be easily taken up during a difficult situation.
Once the lectures were done, delegates were refuelled with a large selection of food. The afternoon session was made up of moulages and workshops including:
Our PCP Conference Lead, Jonas, had the amazing opportunity of organising our two day conference event "Between a Rock and a Hard Place". Alongside Jonas, there were a group of dedicated conference committee members, volunteers and helpers to help run the whole event. This included designing the scenarios to making sure we had enough tea/coffee/food during our lunch break. It was a successful event and many congratulations for those involved. We received some good feedback from all those that attended and any improvements suggested will be implemented for our future events.
Details of both days will be described below with some great pictures from the weekend.
Saturday 6th April 2019
We started early in the morning setting up the Pathology Museum and lecture theatre for the arrival of our conference delegates with some arriving as early as 8:30 on the dot.
First Speaker: Dr Mike Christian MD, MSc (Public Health), FRCPC Senior Research Lead, Clinical Effectiveness Lead, HEMS Doctor: London’s Air Ambulance & Bart’s Health NHS
Dr Christian spoke about responses to terrorism in regards to HEMS and within hospital. Another major aspect was about the role of bystanders in assisting those that may have been injured for example in the London Bridge attack.
Second Speaker: Surgeon Commander Kate Prior MBBS, MRCS, FRCA, DipRTM Surgeon Commander, Royal Navy, Consultant in Anaesthetics and Major Trauma, King’s College Hospital Consultant Advisor Maritime; MERT Training Programme Director South East School of Anaesthesia
Commander Prior spoke about how “you can’t save them all,” how one can manage poor patient outcomes and what you can learn from these. Another great point was the idea of having a critical friend and not a critic.
Third Speaker: Andy Barrett, Police Officer
Andy spoke specifically about the policing side of major incidences with some examples and the role of Police Medics. Craig Cassidy LAS
Fourth and final speaker of: Paramedic and PCP Lead Paramedic
Our very own PCP Lead Paramedic spoke about the 7/7 attack, discussed the difficult environment he worked in, the effect of bandwidth and how it can be easily taken up during a difficult situation.
Once the lectures were done, delegates were refuelled with a large selection of food. The afternoon session was made up of moulages and workshops including:
- Primary Survey/ Airway Management: Looked at the structured approach of (C) ABCDE and different adjuncts which add in maintaining airways.
- Falls: Practical Scenario, where delegates were tasked to assess an injured "patient"(dummy) who had fallen down some stairs and then extricate them.
- Burns: Delegates taught how to treat a patient that may be affected by burns and discussed some of the physiological processes that are involved.
Sunday 7th April 2019
First speaker: Ellis Gingell is a Paramedic with the London Ambulance Service
Ellis spoke about the difficult environments he has faced working for the TRU, like above the key point of bandwidth usage and the idea the pre-planning and communication is vital. A second presentation was about cases that are further complicated by usage of chemicals and precautions that need to be taken.
Final Speaker: Dr Swee Chai Ang, MD, FRCS, MSc (Occupational Medicine)
Dr Ang, provided us with her experience of medicine in difficult and low resource environments
Followed by the above talks delegates were fuelled to move onto the moulages/workshops:
First speaker: Ellis Gingell is a Paramedic with the London Ambulance Service
Ellis spoke about the difficult environments he has faced working for the TRU, like above the key point of bandwidth usage and the idea the pre-planning and communication is vital. A second presentation was about cases that are further complicated by usage of chemicals and precautions that need to be taken.
Final Speaker: Dr Swee Chai Ang, MD, FRCS, MSc (Occupational Medicine)
Dr Ang, provided us with her experience of medicine in difficult and low resource environments
Followed by the above talks delegates were fuelled to move onto the moulages/workshops:
- Toxins: Discussion on the effects of toxins on human physiologically, possible signs and symptoms and precautions that may need to be taken by healthcare professionals.
- Large Scenario set in a Nightclub
PCP National 2017 conference: Prehospital care against the elements
April 8-9th this year saw PCP host their National Conference: Prehospital Medicine Against the Elements. The weekend consisted of a mixture of talks, practical sessions and moulages - based around the four elements: EARTH, FIRE, AIR and WATER.
SATURDAY: FIRE AND EARTH
The morning kick started with talk on triaging from Craig Cassidy — Lead Paramedic for the Prehospital Care Programme, an LAS First Responder Paramedic, and an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Craig explained the importance of the triage algorithm in major incidents with multiple casualties, and how this was going to be utilised later on in the day when taking part in the moulage scenarios.
EARTH: Dr Amy Hughes
Clinical Academic lecturer in Emergency Response at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) at the University of Manchester, Dr Hughes has extensive experience in the field of humanitarian and emergency medicine, receiving an MBE for her services in 2015. Dr Hughes has also worked for LAA, The Royal Flying Doctors in Australia and Kent, Surrey and Sussex Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. Dr Hughes shared her experiences of working overseas, including in Northern Sri Lanka with MSF. emphasising the importance of resource based decision making in challenging environments with very limited equipment. Dr Hughes highlighted the importance of organisations being self-sufficient when providing aid to developing countries and assisting and training local healthcare professionals for lasting positive outcome.
FIRE: Watch Commander Jayne Collins
A member of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Trauma Team, Jayne is recognised as making an exceptional contribution to the service and communities she serves. in 2016 Jayne won both the UK national trauma challenge and the Irish National Challenge - demonstrating her excellent skills in advanced casualty medical care. The conference saw Jayne share her experience of the fire bridge and a cardiac arrest case study. Jayne spoke about the challenges between crew safety and perception from the public in controlling fires.
The afternoon saw practical skills sessions on Major haemorrhage control by assistant lead paramedic Sean Harris and Police Medic Andrew Barrett. This was followed by orthopaedic practical skills - splinting, fractures and breaks in the prehospital session taken by HEMS Dr Aswinkumar Vasireddy. Saturdays moulage reenacted a fire in a nightclub with mass casualties - students put their triage skills to the test as first responders in a challenging environment. Casualties were transported to a casualty clearing station where delegates were assessed on their primary survery and management of these patients.
The evening concluded with a drinks reception in the Pathplogy Museum at St Bartholemew's Hospital.
SUNDAY: WATER AND AIR
WATER: Paul Savage OBE
Following nearly 30 years of search and rescue experience with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and HM coastguard combined with the latest medical research Mr Savage will give his highly praised talk on the ‘Seven Ways Cold Water Kills’. Paul talked our delegates through the stages of survival for submersion and immersion casualties, detailing the physiological changes occurring at these times and outlining the immediate and correct medical treatment required in these cases.
Paul was responsible for the operational medical response of all of the UK and Eire’s Lifeboat crew, Lifeguards and Flood Response teams, as well as the architect and custodian of the Clinical Governance of the RNLI. He advised on all matters casualty care related - from kit carried, casualty care course design to casualty-friendly boat design.Paul is Chairman of the UK Search and Rescue Medical Group that shapes the future and direction of UK SAR medicine, and is a member of the Main Advisory Board and the Training and Standards Board of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital care of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh). He is also an instructor for specialist elite sections of the UK Military.
Key learning points on how to recognise teh 7 causes of death by drowning - the mechanism, time scale and management. This was to come in handy for our delegates later on in the afternoon duirng our water moulage
AIR: Dr Stephen Rashford
Currently consultant emergency physican and Medical Director of Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), Dr Rashford is one of Australia’s leading emergency medicine specialists. With more than 20 years experience in aero-medical retrieval, medical assistance and pre-hospital care, currently working with London’s Air Ambulance.
Dr Rashford has a plethora of experience and publications in a variety of aspects in pre-hospital and emergency medicine and as Medical Director of QAS he maintains standards that ensure the highest level of patient care. At the conference Dr Rashford discussed the challenges of exploring the scene involving interfacility transfer of critically injured patients in Australia as well as international transfers. Dr Rashford spoke about his expereinces in PHEM in Australia and how patients are monitored during such long distance flights and discuss how to spot the signs and premempt deterioration. Spoke through the importance of understanding the differences in humdity and dehydration when transferring patients at high altitudes.
The morning concluded with a talk on human factors by Dr Gareth Grier - co-convenor of the iBSc in Prehospital Medicine, alongside Dr Goodsman. A consultant with London's Air Ambulance and consultant in Prehospital and Emergency Medicine in the Barts Health NHS Trust; Dr Grier is also the director of the Institute of Prehospital Care, where he leads the education of doctors and students in prehospital medicine. Dr Grier discussed the importance of recognising human factors that contribute to the challenges faced when managing patients in the prehospital environment.
The afternoon consisted of a talk by Professor Simon Holmes: Lead Cranio-Facial Trauma Surgeon at Barts Health. Professor Holmes discussed the managament of complex pan-facial injuries for both primary and revision trauma surgery, and the challenges faced with such complex surgery. Skills workshops were ran on airway management by PCP Alumni.
Sunday's moulage allowed us to take advantage of the sunshine in the courtyard of St Bartholemews Hospital - were a collision of two boats was reenacted. Delegates were assessed on their ability to triage and effiiciently extricate multiple casualties from a difficult area with a range of injuries. They were then transferred to a casualty clearing centre where theywere assessed and managed. The scenario allowed delegates to utilise the information from Paul Savage's talk on the injuries sustained, and causes of death by drowning, and also emphasised the impact human factors can play in challenging environments with multiple casualties and limited resources.
We would like to thank everyone who made the National Conference a success and to all of the delegates who attended, making it what we felt was an educational and enjoyable weekend.
SATURDAY: FIRE AND EARTH
The morning kick started with talk on triaging from Craig Cassidy — Lead Paramedic for the Prehospital Care Programme, an LAS First Responder Paramedic, and an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Craig explained the importance of the triage algorithm in major incidents with multiple casualties, and how this was going to be utilised later on in the day when taking part in the moulage scenarios.
EARTH: Dr Amy Hughes
Clinical Academic lecturer in Emergency Response at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI) at the University of Manchester, Dr Hughes has extensive experience in the field of humanitarian and emergency medicine, receiving an MBE for her services in 2015. Dr Hughes has also worked for LAA, The Royal Flying Doctors in Australia and Kent, Surrey and Sussex Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. Dr Hughes shared her experiences of working overseas, including in Northern Sri Lanka with MSF. emphasising the importance of resource based decision making in challenging environments with very limited equipment. Dr Hughes highlighted the importance of organisations being self-sufficient when providing aid to developing countries and assisting and training local healthcare professionals for lasting positive outcome.
FIRE: Watch Commander Jayne Collins
A member of the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Trauma Team, Jayne is recognised as making an exceptional contribution to the service and communities she serves. in 2016 Jayne won both the UK national trauma challenge and the Irish National Challenge - demonstrating her excellent skills in advanced casualty medical care. The conference saw Jayne share her experience of the fire bridge and a cardiac arrest case study. Jayne spoke about the challenges between crew safety and perception from the public in controlling fires.
The afternoon saw practical skills sessions on Major haemorrhage control by assistant lead paramedic Sean Harris and Police Medic Andrew Barrett. This was followed by orthopaedic practical skills - splinting, fractures and breaks in the prehospital session taken by HEMS Dr Aswinkumar Vasireddy. Saturdays moulage reenacted a fire in a nightclub with mass casualties - students put their triage skills to the test as first responders in a challenging environment. Casualties were transported to a casualty clearing station where delegates were assessed on their primary survery and management of these patients.
The evening concluded with a drinks reception in the Pathplogy Museum at St Bartholemew's Hospital.
SUNDAY: WATER AND AIR
WATER: Paul Savage OBE
Following nearly 30 years of search and rescue experience with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and HM coastguard combined with the latest medical research Mr Savage will give his highly praised talk on the ‘Seven Ways Cold Water Kills’. Paul talked our delegates through the stages of survival for submersion and immersion casualties, detailing the physiological changes occurring at these times and outlining the immediate and correct medical treatment required in these cases.
Paul was responsible for the operational medical response of all of the UK and Eire’s Lifeboat crew, Lifeguards and Flood Response teams, as well as the architect and custodian of the Clinical Governance of the RNLI. He advised on all matters casualty care related - from kit carried, casualty care course design to casualty-friendly boat design.Paul is Chairman of the UK Search and Rescue Medical Group that shapes the future and direction of UK SAR medicine, and is a member of the Main Advisory Board and the Training and Standards Board of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital care of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh). He is also an instructor for specialist elite sections of the UK Military.
Key learning points on how to recognise teh 7 causes of death by drowning - the mechanism, time scale and management. This was to come in handy for our delegates later on in the afternoon duirng our water moulage
AIR: Dr Stephen Rashford
Currently consultant emergency physican and Medical Director of Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), Dr Rashford is one of Australia’s leading emergency medicine specialists. With more than 20 years experience in aero-medical retrieval, medical assistance and pre-hospital care, currently working with London’s Air Ambulance.
Dr Rashford has a plethora of experience and publications in a variety of aspects in pre-hospital and emergency medicine and as Medical Director of QAS he maintains standards that ensure the highest level of patient care. At the conference Dr Rashford discussed the challenges of exploring the scene involving interfacility transfer of critically injured patients in Australia as well as international transfers. Dr Rashford spoke about his expereinces in PHEM in Australia and how patients are monitored during such long distance flights and discuss how to spot the signs and premempt deterioration. Spoke through the importance of understanding the differences in humdity and dehydration when transferring patients at high altitudes.
The morning concluded with a talk on human factors by Dr Gareth Grier - co-convenor of the iBSc in Prehospital Medicine, alongside Dr Goodsman. A consultant with London's Air Ambulance and consultant in Prehospital and Emergency Medicine in the Barts Health NHS Trust; Dr Grier is also the director of the Institute of Prehospital Care, where he leads the education of doctors and students in prehospital medicine. Dr Grier discussed the importance of recognising human factors that contribute to the challenges faced when managing patients in the prehospital environment.
The afternoon consisted of a talk by Professor Simon Holmes: Lead Cranio-Facial Trauma Surgeon at Barts Health. Professor Holmes discussed the managament of complex pan-facial injuries for both primary and revision trauma surgery, and the challenges faced with such complex surgery. Skills workshops were ran on airway management by PCP Alumni.
Sunday's moulage allowed us to take advantage of the sunshine in the courtyard of St Bartholemews Hospital - were a collision of two boats was reenacted. Delegates were assessed on their ability to triage and effiiciently extricate multiple casualties from a difficult area with a range of injuries. They were then transferred to a casualty clearing centre where theywere assessed and managed. The scenario allowed delegates to utilise the information from Paul Savage's talk on the injuries sustained, and causes of death by drowning, and also emphasised the impact human factors can play in challenging environments with multiple casualties and limited resources.
We would like to thank everyone who made the National Conference a success and to all of the delegates who attended, making it what we felt was an educational and enjoyable weekend.
