Page 14 - QARANC Vol 14 No 10 2015

12 QARANC THE GAZETTE
BATUS
Suffield Canada
After a 19-hour journey, which had comprised of flight delays, the 9-hour flight from Brize Norton to Calgary and a two and an half hour coach trip to BATUS I finally arrived on camp. The majority of the personnel on board the flight were new staff to man the medical centre and after getting off the coach we were greeted by the Medical Centre practice manager (WO2 Crooks) who proceeded to show us to our accommodation. The accommodation block is solely for temporary medical personnel only, it comprises of two man rooms, a communal kitchen, bathrooms and laundrette facilities. Once we were settled into our rooms we had a tour of the Medical Centre and the surroundings, which was followed by evening meal and rest. The next day we had an arrivals brief which lasted about four hours some people found this very hard to take everything on board whilst still suffering from jet lag.
My shifts at the medical centre were 12 hour days and nights with three days off in between the day shift was from 0700 – 1900 hours, it required two nurses, two medics and a driver. One nurse ran the ward and the other was the nurse in charge (Sgt Lewis) who worked Monday to Friday for continuity. The two medics helped on sick parades, call outs and on the ward.
The nightshift (1900-0700) only required to have one nurse, one medic and a driver, so because I am a Primary Health Care specialist nurse and the most experienced nurse to arrive I thought it would be best to volunteer for the first
night shift, you have to be able to man a 10 bedded ward, look after any trauma patients and sometimes cope with the medic/driver going off to any A-K incidents on the prairie or to hospital in Medicine Hat (45 minute journey). A doctor is on call if required. A-K is an acronym used to assess and report casualties whilst keeping confidentiality.
The medical centre only had 5 British military permanent staff, they consisted of the Senior Medical Officer (Maj Stuart), the Practice Manager (WO2 Crooks), a Nurse (Sgt Chambers) a Dental Officer (Maj Smith) and also Dental Nurse (Cpl White). The remaining personnel were Canadian medics, receptionists, doctors and a civilian Locum doctor.
During my four-month tour between five nurses we saw over 400 patients. There was also a Medical facility out on the prairie provided by 4 Armoured Medical Regiment on Prairie Storm two which assessed and admitted any soldiers injured or unwell.
I have been a nurse for 14 years and I learned so much in BATUS. My job was very exciting and challenging, some of the presentations I came across where head injuries, fractured arms, legs and jaws, ankle sprains, knee pain, heat and cold injuries, Insect bites leading to Cellulitis required IV antibiotics, back injuries, burns, crushed fingers, eye injuries and sexually transmitted infections (STI).
Lt Col Baker (RMO) and Maj Dembry (Physiotherapist) had arrived at the same time as us. Maj Dembry was the only Physio and I would say was the busiest person in BATUS