Page 8 - QARANC Vol 16 No 1 2018

6 QARANC THE GAZETTE
A Reflective Account of Op TRENTON 2
Sixty nurses were nominated for Op TRENTON 2, a United Nations deployment to South Sudan, to establish a Medical Treatment Facility for the Royal Engineers Group who were rebuilding roads and bridges in the country. We expected to deploy early in 2017 but the deployment date kept being delayed, eventually we deployed from April until July 2017. It was back to basics for travel and accommodation, with dirt track roads and 12 hour delays at airports. Dome tents became our home and mosquito nets our best friend, to keep both the mosquitos and fleas out of our sleeping space. The heat was a challenge, but we progressed to air- conditioning later in the deployment. Any privacy in the showers and ablutions was a challenge, but luckily Wi-Fi and amazing food kept our morale up.
We had to be really flexible over the pre-deployment training, which was constantly changing and evolving, but non-negotiable. The training was demanding but fun, including close quarter battle training, working as an Infantry section and pistol and rifle ranges. Civil war pervaded the country and our safety could not be guaranteed. We had to demonstrate a portfolio of original certificates of all our
qualifications and competencies. Filling sandbags and building walls in 40-degree heat, with 20 people and four spades was really good team bonding; we had strict protocols for acclimatisation and rest breaks and we had to get accomplished with managing our own and others’ stress and disappointment. There were plenty of episodes of diarrhoea and vomiting within the staff and patients, and frustrations over lack of information about onward moves, as well as shocking experiences of seeing refugee camps up close. Much of the clinical workload was malaria and heat injury within the patient population; there was only one operating theatre case, which was a deep laceration,
throughout the deployment.
Once nominated for deployed
operations, we had to clear our diaries and be as responsive and flexible as possible to pre-deployment training. Complete training makes for safe practice. The deployment confirmed the need for specialist nurses like me to maintain their core Defence Operational Nursing Competencies (DONC), as the majority of my clinical time was spent working on the ward; we worked one 12 hour day, followed by a 12 hour night, followed by a rest day, as a shift pattern. We had
to demonstrate the moral courage to voice if a skill was out of date, and there were plenty of colleagues to offer teaching and mentorship.
The deployment reinforced the need to keep my basic clinical skills current and competent, including infection prevention and control, anaphylaxis management, oral and intravenous medication management, and fluid balance.
We had to prioritise the clinical staff to sleep in the air-conditioned areas, particularly the night staff. We had to look out for each other; we all had good and bad days and even the greatest resilience could be eroded at times.
We had to practice effectively, reinforcing our day-o-day clinical practice to be as close to the deployed role as possible. Operating department practitioners and combat medical technicians worked on the ward too.
In terms of professionalism and trust, we all had to be willing to do whatever was required because at times up to 50% of the clinical staff were unable to work due to illness. We had to look after each other, be kind, be friendly and look after each other’s basic needs.
Major Chrissie Stansfield
Head of Department (Theatres)
Christmas in South Sudan
On behalf of all the QAs who are deployed in South Sudan this Christmas, I would like to send a massive THANK YOU for the Christmas presents and goodies you sent us to celebrate the festive season.
As part of the Bentui Engineer Group, the fellow QAs on camp were involved in organising and taking part in all the camp wide activities. This included the camp choir who sang in the service of carols on Christmas Eve, sports teams, serving at the soldier’s lunch as well as the specific activities arranged within the Role 2 Hospital, to name a few.
On Christmas Day the hospital was manned by the officers to ensure all the soldiers had some time off from the relentless day, night and sleep routine and the SNCOs picked up the baton on Boxing Day. We had a steady flow of UN patients throughout the day and even one surgical case to look after but this is all in the stride of a deployed hospital.
Sgt Muzvidziwa was the most organised and at the start of September sorted out secret Santa so that everyone would have time on R&R or internet shopping to get a present sorted. The Intensive Care Unit was decorated and best Christmas outfits worn for all the gifts to be distributed.
After this all the QAs gathered in the ward for the Association presents which were all excitingly opened
(and yes there were some very jealous RAMC, RAF and RE people there to watch). Some of the locally employed civilians (LEC) came in to join in with the fun. Filled to the brim with sugar it was time for the officers and SNCOs to go and set up for the soldiers’ Christmas lunch.
After lunch, Christmas movies were watched, games of Trivial Pursuit, Articulate and Cards Against Humanity were enjoyed by the team before it was time to eat again – and when there is ice cream on the menu you can always find a little more room in the stomach.
We had quite a few QAs who had never been on tour before, many of them quite young and this was their first Christmas away from home and family. In true military style we all came together and had a fun day that will be remembered fondly for years to come. The presents from the Association made us all feel appreciated and that we were remembered at home while doing our work here in South Sudan.
Thank you again on behalf of all the QARANC in South Sudan.
Major M-A Hodge SNO, Op Trenton