Working Life: The man I’m trying to stabilise is a pedestrian involved in a hit-and-run

After the school drop, Reine arrives at the practice in Waterford City, where she works within the admin team. It’s busy, with six GPs.

8.30am

Appointments tick over all morning. As GPs, we deal with everything from pre-conception advice through to end-of-life stage.

11.30am

A call comes through from the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to assist a crew attending the scene of a road traffic accident in the city. As a volunteer with CRITICAL, they can call on me to assist in life-critical situations. 

With very supportive GP colleagues, more often than not I can go. I head to the scene in a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV), supplied and equipped by CRITICAL. It’s designed to provide advanced life support at the roadside, rather than transport patients.

12 noon

The man I’m trying to stabilise is a pedestrian involved in a hit-and-run. We suspect air is leaking from his lungs causing his lung to collapse and compress his heart and other internal organs. 

I insert a needle into his chest to let the air out and with the assistance of the NAS crew, we put him in a collar, onto a vacuum mattress and into the ambulance, while giving him IV meds to relieve pain and prevent further bleeding.

12.30pm

We arrive at the local emergency department and hand the patient over to the waiting resus team. He is stabilised further, but sustained a bleed in his brain, so requires transfer to Cork neurosurgery.

2pm

I return to the scene of the accident to pick up the RRV, before returning to the practice where I resume seeing patients after tea and a sandwich.

5pm

Another call comes through from the National Emergency Operations Centre requesting assistance for a patient who collapsed walking home from town. 

The ambulance can’t come for 45 minutes because of resource issues so I provide assistance at the scene. Thankfully, his injuries are minor.

7.15pm

With paperwork sorted, I head home and pick up the kids before heading to the GAA pitch.