Page 14 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

12 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Stretcher race – Old College RMA in the background
colours in icing, although the grey quickly deteriorated to black and scarlet took on a new definition known previously as pink. Our attempts were saved by some skilled piping an expert crayon representation of our cap-badge, giving us a not too dismal third place for the task. The remainder of the morning sped past as we were ushered from one place to the next, each task uniquely challenging. Our near-win on the command task was only lost at the last moment due to a slip of the tongue and accidentally broken silence. Our QARANC team was described as ‘outstanding’ on the observation lane, achieving second place and surprising our competitors, and we would like to think that we made a fairly good stab at a recruiting video, although it is probably fortunate that you
won’t be able to judge that one for yourselves! Lastly, we made a splash on the lake, and had an opportunity to flex our muscles in front of a very special audience, HRH the Countess of Wessex. There was also an opportunity for a few official, and unofficial, photographs before departing for a well-earned lunch.
Not filling our bellies too much so as not to weigh ourselves down before the stretcher race, we readied ourselves for the penultimate task of ‘guess-the-tune’, courtesy of CAMUS. Where we had been conservative at lunch, we gorged ourselves on the music. The fabulous sounds emitted from the band had all of the teams singing along, although sadly there were no prizes for the most tuneful. There was then a stark change in the atmosphere which became palpably tenser as the teams prepared for the final task, the stretcher race. We set off steadily, with three miles to go and some challenging terrain. Our aim was simple; to do our absolute best and to stick together. Undaunted, we helped each other through and, where we lacked the physical strength of some of the larger teams, the strength of character of every single woman shone through. Not stopping until we crossed that final line, we finished to adrenaline-fuelled jubilation, hearty hugs and a few damp eyes.
Whilst not finishing with the winning cup, QARANC team finished with something immensely more valuable; new friends and experiences that we will not forget.
Captain Amy McLeod Joint HG (SE)
Cavell Nurses Trust – Cavell Star Award
Major Teresa Levett, a Reservist and secondincommandoftheNursing Squadron of 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital was awarded a Cavell Nurses Trust Cavell Star Award for her outstanding nursing work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in South Sudan and Partnerships Overseas Networking Trust (PONT), a community link between Rhondda Cynon Taf and a district in Uganda, called Mbale. Terry is a very experienced theatre nurse and, in a quest to further utilise her skills and knowledge, she offered to work with PONT on one of their projects, which was to improve and develop the operating theatre services in Mbale District Hospital. 2011 was the first time that this specific assignment had been undertaken in a clinical area. The development of theatre capabilities was deemed an important project by PONT which was due to the spectrum of patients that staff in Mbale District Hospital operates on and the identified requirement to train their theatre staff in modern surgical techniques.
Major Levett provided specific advice on the importance of promoting basic
care such as reducing cross infection and improving communication between hospital departments, doctors and nurses and men and women, which she says at times was a challenge. In 2012 Terry went back to the same hospital to build upon the principles previously introduced, but this time focusing on building scrub practice, instrumentation sterilisation and the adaptation of equipment to meet various demands.
In 2017, after a rigorous selection process, Terry was appointed to the ICRC and has completed two missions with them to South Sudan. Her first mission was caring for war wounded and the local population affected by the civil war. Her second mission found her working in collaboration with the health team in Juba, leading the teaching, mentoring and supervision of the resident operating theatre staff, updating ICRC guidelines and practices and promoting high standards of care and practice with the surgical team. To her credit during these challenging deployments, Major Levett completed and passed an MSc in Disaster Healthcare.
Major Levett was surprised and
Major Levett receiving the Cavell Star Award
delighted to receive the Cavell Star Award. ‘It was a massive shock, but I am honoured to be recognised by my colleagues and receive the award. Edith Cavell was an inspiring nurse and to be linked to her in any way is a phenomenal achievement’.
Lieutenant Colonel Caroline Whittaker