Waikato Hospital medical staff heading to Samoa

An eight-strong medical team from Waikato Hospital is expected to fly to Samoa later today to provide surgical support on the ground for those injured by the devastating tsunami.

Two anaesthetists, an orthopaedic surgeon and five theatre nurses from Waikato Hospital are among the first wave of New Zealand medical staff.

Theatre nurse Debbie Ratima, also a clinical nurse educator, said she volunteered yesterday because she wanted to help those in Samoa who do not have a lot now and need their help.

"It's the devastation they're going to face and the lack of resources and we just want to know how we can get up there and help them."

She had no idea where the team was going.
 
"We'll initially go through a process of triaging and then we'll get stuck in. There will be horrific injuries I'm sure. The team from Waikato going are very experienced. We're ready to do anything. We all know each other and we've all worked together.

"It's fantastic there is such a large group of people from Waikato who put their hands up to go."

Mrs Ratima said she was trying to prepare herself for what she might see. "We don't really know what we're going to face. I'm a mother, I can't imagine the devastation. These people need our help and so that's something you prepare yourself for and get stuck in and help."

She and the other theatre nurses going were prepared to do anything to assist.

"There's a lot of other people that would also like to go from Waikato. I expect we'll do eight days. They'll be long days and non stop."

Caption: l-r Waikato Hospital theatre nurses Janine Lee, Barbara Roberts and Debbie Ratima with anaesthetist Alan Goodey off to Samoa today. Picture: Waikato District Health Board

High res available http://www.waikatodhb.govt.nz/photogallery.aspx news photos, search Samoa.

Date: 2 October 2009


Mary Anne Gill
Director
Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
P.O. Box 934
Hamilton 3240
Ph: 07 834 3684
Mobile: 021 705 213