And it’s only February
Posted on Sunday 1st March 2009
It’s always special being part of something new. There is that sense of anticipation and energy. A perception that everything is fresh and great opportunities exist for the future.
Yesterday marked one such day. We officially launched the new Statewide Retrieval Service named MedSTAR. This stands for Medical Service for Transport Assistance and Rescue. A little complicated I grant you, but the emphasis has been put on our many capabilities. We now provide adult and paediatric aeromedical, mobile intensive care and remote reinforcement services. This means we can be tasked with any requirement for provision of all medical services occurring outside hospital. This sees us wearing many different hats as I’ve mentioned in previous posts.
The new service also meant a change in uniform. Out went the dignified navy that we wore while working for Mediflight. Instead we have been given bright red flight suits. They certainly are noticeable as there is no missing us. A photo will make the point:
We’ve already been subjected to some gentle piss-taking by colleagues in the various hospitals we both pick patients up from and deliver to. The jokes have been pretty predictable usually involving references to Santa. So far we have tried to be good natured and play along, but I suspect the jibes will get very tired very quickly.
I can claim another first – the inaugural mission for the new service. One of the nurses and I came on duty at seven o’clock yesterday morning, and within an hour were already on our way in the helicopter to pick up a patient from an accident scene some 50 kilometres from the city. All went well and we delivered her safely to hospital. In fact yesterday was a very busy day and by the end of my 12 hour shift I had done another 2 jobs and clocked up quite a few flying hours. And it wasn’t just me getting all the fun. The fledgling service ended up doing 8 jobs by the end of the first 24 hours. Not a bad way to start. Hopefully I’ll have more interesting stories to tell very soon.
You don’t look like Santa to me.
More like a Sydney Swans supporter.