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Waikato medical team arrives in Samoa
Waikato medical team arrives in Samoa
The nine-strong Waikato Hospital medical team arrived in Samoa today on an RNZ Air Force flight with two Zealand based Samoan-speaking doctors and two Samoan-speaking nurses and were briefed an hour ago by an Australian medical team.
They've been told they'll have a full theatre schedule starting early tomorrow.
Theatre nurse Debbie Ratima said there's a lot of broken bones and lacerations to operate on plus there's the prospect of even more patients presenting during the day as Samoans come down from the hills where they've sheltered for several days since the tsunami last week. "We're tired and weary after our journey, we'll get a good night's sleep and then we're ready to do whatever we need to do to help," she said.
The flight from Whenuapai to Samoa early today took nearly four hours. The team arrived to 30 degree temperatures.
"Everyone's ready to go. This is such a mission. It's bloody hot but all we want to do is get on with it and do what we can to help. "We've got a great team. We know each other. We know what we're capable of. We've got the right personalities together. I'm glad I'm here with people I know and trust."
Mrs Ratima, a theatre nurse and
educator, was to be on leave this week spending time with
husband Russell and children Jade, 14, and Sam,
8.
"They're alright. The kids are being looked after.
They support me."
Waikato Hospital provided two surgeons,
two anesthetists, three theatre nurses and two recovery
nurses.
Back from left: Debbie Ratima - Theatre Nurse,
Jason Donovan- Orthopaedic Surgeon, Andrea Jarocki - Theatre
Nurse, Ralph van Dalen - Surgeon, Janine Lee - Recovery
Nurse, April McFarland - Recovery Nurse. Front from left:
Alan Goodey - Anaesthetist, Barbara Roberts – Theatre
Nurse, John Smithells - Anaesthetist - Picture courtesy
Waikato District Health
Board.
ENDS
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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