UK medics to assist Philippines relief effort
The British government is sending surgeons, doctors and A&E nurses to assist with recovery efforts of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
The Department for International Development will deploy twelve emergency British medical staff, including surgeons, doctors and A&E nurses to assist with recovery efforts in the Philippines.
Announced earlier today by International Development Secretary Justine Greening, the initial medical and surgical team will be comprised of:
- 3 emergency physicians
- 2 orthopaedic surgeons
- 1 plastic surgeon
- 2 accident and emergency nurses
- 1 theatre nurse
- 2 anaesthetists
- 1 specialist physiotherapist
Justine Greening approved the deployment of members of the UK International Emergency Trauma Register following a direct request from the Philippines Department of Health. The UK team will be provided as part of the British Government’s £10 million relief efforts for the disaster.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:
The Philippines Government has asked Britain for urgent medical assistance and I have now activated the UK’s International Emergency Trauma Register. We are mobilising a 12 strong team of volunteer surgeons, doctors and paramedics who are expert at operating in emergency situations such as this.
The register is designed specifically to respond to situations where surgical expertise is required and will mean that the UK provides a timely and coordinated response to rapid-onset disasters. DFID’s support for the UKIETR will see over 400 medical personnel registered and trained by 2014.
The team will be led by Professor A D Redmond, Professor of International Emergency Medicine at the University of Manchester.
Professor Redmond has trained in Emergency Medicine in the UK and the USA and is a registered specialist. He has provided emergency humanitarian medical assistance for over 20 years, responding to natural disasters, major incidents, conflicts and complex emergencies throughout the world. This has included a deployment to Haiti where he led a team of surgeons providing emergency medicine and surgery with the UK NGO Merlin, and provided health needs assessment for a number of agencies to shape the ongoing relief effort.
The team are preparing to deploy at the earliest possible opportunity.
Notes to editors:
- Please contact DFID press office for further information on the team’s deployment on +44 20 7023 0600.
- DFID’s support for the trauma register was (set out by Justine Greening in December 2012.)[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/disasters-uk-medics-to-help-in-overseas-emergencies]
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