Page 30 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

28 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Zita Heyes RAMC, 22 Field Hospital Commanding Officer Lt Col Andrea Lewis QARANC RRC
Tales of a deployed Healthcare Assistant
I am LCpl Samuel Woode, a Health Care Assistant, posted into 22 Field Hospital from MDHU Frimley Park Hospital (MDHU(FP)) in March 2011 and what a contrast in my roles.
On arrival at 22, I was informed of the units’ ongoing preparation for deployment on OP HERRICK 16, in April 2012. As a result the unit was busy throughout the year with exercises and pre-deployment training (PDT).
Previous to MDHU(FP) and 22, I had deployed on my first Operational tour, to Afghanistan, on 15 June 2009 where I worked on ward 2 as a military Health Care Assistant. My main role was to undertake basic patient interventions and observations including venepuncture, cannulation, and basic wound dressings and also to assist with the basics of nursing care such as feeding, bathing and toileting. This was my first opportunity to work with nurses from both the Royal Navy and RAF and that taught me a lot.
Shortly after, on 15 April 2010, I deployed to Afghanistan again with 34 Field Hospital on OP HERRICK 12. This tour was, however, very different from HERRICK 9 because I worked in ED which meant more responsibilities as well as the opportunity to put into practice all the skills and experiences that I had gained from working in A&E back in the UK.
On this particular tour we were also met, in theatre, by our US counterparts and worked together, for the first part of the tour, trying to learn each other’s way of practice, rather than meeting at AMSTC and starting the learning process together. HERRICK 12 was also more challenging because of the amount of trauma patients that we saw within the first 3 months. This gave me the chance to learn new skills which were certainly beneficial towards my NVQ level 3 in Health.
On the 8th of April 2012 five coaches, loaded with cadre and Individual Augmentees, sailed out of Normandy Barracks, home to 22 Field Hospital, to commence the final HOSPEX and preparation for deployment on HERRICK 16.
Having attended HOSPEX several times before, I found this exercise more educational but also a good refresher for
me since this was my third deployment to Afghanistan and it brought back the skills and experiences that I obtained on my previous HERRICK tours. This process included the Mission Specific Validation exercise which gave me the invaluable opportunity to work with our US counterparts, rather than meeting them there. We deployed into theatre on the 18th April 2012, attended RSOI for three days and rapidly commenced our introduction to the Emergency Department for a handover.
As my first six month tour, I found Herrick 16A more challenging and busy with the amount of work that was upon all of us but we accepted the challenges and rose above it as the process of integration between UK and US counterparts proved effective and efficient. It wasn’t long before we formed a professional, calm, and collected trauma team.
HERRICK 16 offered plenty of entertainment between our long days and nights to keep us smiling until our end of tour. These activities included the 5km Pedro run (starting at midnight in the full moon every month), the Queen’s Jubilee weekend, a Hawaiian BBQ, and a back to school night, including fancy dress where possible. We also made the most of various educational visits including PEDRO, MERT, and OSPREY to give us a bigger picture of casualty extraction and the external non-UK capabilities.
Before we knew it, we had reached the halfway point of the tour. Sadly, this meant we had to say our farewells to the Alpha team and hail the new members of Bravo team. In order to form instant
bonds, we hosted a hails and farewells night, with some pizza and fizzy pop, giving people the chance to catch up and communicate with one another in a non-trauma situation.
As for Alpha, we had to integrate with Bravo to continue that well oiled efficient trauma team we previously had and all we needed was to receive trauma casualties, and before we knew it, this bond had been established.
Although the second part of the tour wasn’t as clinically demanding as the first part, we utilised most of our free periods on teaching sessions and other sporting activities such as inter team volleyball, touch rugby and also the Bastion Prom Night; photos need to be seen to be believed! We also celebrated the London Olympics and Paralympics and before we knew it we began final preparation to handover the department to members of Herrick 17.
On their arrival we took them through various practices and sessions to help them settle in properly. On completion of hand over, we left Afghanistan then proceeded through decompression in Cyprus (twice as our flight was delayed).
On return to the UK, we met up with both teams from HERRICK 16A and 16B for a medals parade followed by a cracking function, organised by 22 Field Hospital. We then bid a fond farewell to each other and hope that we will work together again.
And that is my tale of a Health Care Assistant deployed. Who knows where I may go with the Very High Readiness Hospital.
LCPL WOODE QARANC
22 FD HOSP.