'New Zealand shows tragedy could occur in any community'

Manx doctor readies Nobles' staff with disaster training

The tragic events in Christchurch last month, proves communities such as the Isle of Man should be prepared as best it can, if a major incident strikes.

Speaking after a disaster exercise at Noble's Hospital yesterday (2 Apr) a top government consultant, says the emergency planning currently in place, recognises the Island is not immune to tragedy.

Dr Gareth Davies, who was involved in the London Air Ambulance response during the 2005 terrorist attacks, devises a range of emergency scenarios for Manx hospital staff throughout the year, large and small. 

"We undertook an exercise this time last year and in the 12 months that have passed" said the consultant physician "communities all over the world, that are a bit like us, thought that tragic things would never happen to them, New Zealand being a prime example.

"I'm sure Christchurch thought they were the last place on the planet would have such a terrible sequence of events.

"We undertook the exercise on the principle it may be happening to us in the near future."

Operation Apollo

Over 200 members of the health service attended the voluntary simulation held at Keyll Daree, which saw a crash at Ronaldsway airport spawn a large number of casualties and fatalities.

With the airport acting as the scene of the incident, patients were unable to be flown out to neighbouring centres such as Aintree, leaving Noble's to cope on its own.

The high number of those affected was designed to stress every department, from catering through to intensive care.

What is typically known 'table top' exercise involving magnetic figures to represent individual patients, actors were employed for 'Operation Apollo' to give it a 'third dimension', according to Dr Davies.

"Like what would happen in a real scenario, they were going into rooms looking for children that were missing and were obviously at some points hysterical because they weren't getting the answers.

"It really upped the anxiety levels and added a degree of realism to what could have happened on the day.

All this was taking place whilst Noble's Hospital ran as normal, a 'huge challenge' which he is 'really proud of'.

"It just shows you how much spirit and comittment there is from the staff, it's pretty special.

"They're willing to come in on their days off to support a big event like this and it is frightening for them to plan for this.

Listen below to the Mandate interview with Dr Gareth Davies: