FACEM begins third rotation in Gaza field hospital
FACEM Dr Sandy Inglis will begin his third rotation at a newly established field hospital in Rafah, Gaza this week.
Dr Inglis began his first six-week rotation on the frontlines in March, where work focussed on turning an empty patch of land into a functional field hospital. After a week respite in April, Dr Inglis returned to the Rafah field hospital for his second six-week rotation. The hospital, which is housed inside canvas tents, began operations on May 9.
“Within the first five days we had seen more than 500 people,” said Dr Inglis. “It’s been pretty much fully operational for the last three or four weeks and the numbers of people being treated are escalating.”
“We need the killing to stop.”
““It’s been pretty much fully operational for the last three or four weeks and the numbers of people being treated are escalating. We need the killing to stop.””
The field hospital has a range of specialty equipment, two operating theatres and a comprehensive maternal and newborn care unit.
Dr Inglis said, “There’s maternity beds, some pre-op and post-op beds, some high-dependency beds, plus a whole lot of assessment beds, and four resus beds – 62 in total.”
“We keep one operating theatre for caesareans and other surgeries. The other operating theatre is used for weapon wounds and major surgical and orthopaedics – that is busy for most of every day now. There are a lot of limbs being amputated.”
Dr Inglis is one of two Australian FACEMS involved in working within the centre.
The field hospital was established by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in combination with several Red Cross National Societies to complement and support the urgent care performed by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), and address the overwhelming medical needs created by the ongoing conflict.
ACEM and other peak nursing and emergency nursing bodies of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand recently called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire to end the escalating health crisis in Gaza.
