Page 41 - QARANC The Gazette Spring 2023

The Gazette QARANC Association 41
number of casualties in and out of a facility and allows leaders to understand how many bed spaces there are in the facility, to control what treatment can be delivered. Having been a ward master who manages a patient tracking system in the past, Meghann was fortunate enough to have had the experience and knowledge to control this.
Despite the successful outcome, Meghann describes Mali as her hardest tour to date, as it was her first as a mother and a wife. “Leaving my family this time was difficult with very little comms and long patrols. The country is in poverty and the heat temperatures are at times very uncomfortable to operate in. I was there for seven months with no RnR due to Covid restrictions. I have learned lessons about myself and how I can operate in the future and equally I have taken a lot from the tour.
“The biggest impression the tour has made for me and fascinates me still is how dedicated and hard working the team I deployed with were. I was very lucky to have been a part of that team and would deploy with them all again in a heartbeat.”
Meghann enlisted into the QARANC in 2008 and has enjoyed a good career to date, working with “some amazing clinicians”. She added: “I have learnt a lot throughout my career and have no regrets joining the QARANC. I have deployed worldwide on major and minor exercises and completed two tours of Afghanistan, a tour to Sierra Leone treating casualties with Ebola, and most recently Mali. I am
I have deployed worldwide onmajor and minor exercises and completed two tours of Afghanistan, a tour to Sierra Leone treating casualties with Ebola, and most recently Mali.
now the Business Change WO for the Cortisone team based out of DMS (W).”
And her emotions on learning she was being awarded the QCVS? “I was really shocked. It was not at all expected and I felt overwhelmed to say the least.”
Meghann is due to receive a silver oak leaf to put on her Mali medal. She will be presented this at DMS(W) by a 2* general.