Staffexperiencesondeployment
CamGrant-Fargie,recentlyreturnedtoTaranakifromdeploymentto Hawke’sBayFallen Soldiers'MemorialHospitalinHastings. Here'swhathehadtosayabouthisexperience...
WhenaskedwhereIwantedtowork,Iput myhandupforsurgicalormedicalwardstocover absent staff. I was placed in ward A4 – General Surgical – a bit like Ward 3A in Taranaki, but without Urology.
The pre-deployment briefing made me worried about the conditions and I planned accordingly for impacted infrastructure (water/power) and potential for limited creature comforts. I was very relieved to find that Hastings was not as significantly impacted as I had feared. We were well looked after and shared a house with other deployed workers.
During the 10 days I spent in Hastings, I worked in the Surgical Ward (the first time in years!) allbutoneday.Themanagerofthewardhadresortedtosleepinginherofficeforafewdays duetolivinginNapierandworkinginHastings;theroadssubsequentlyopenedallowingstaff to travel safely between the two cities which relieved staffingtroubles somewhat.
Cam (centre) with some of the staff he worked with during his time deployed in Hastings. IarrivedinHawke’sBayonWednesday22Februaryafterreceivinganin-depthbrieffromthe national workforceteam prior to leaving the comfort of Taranaki.Elective surgeries had been reduced but occupancy remained high. Staffing was close to baseline and when the rain arrived again the level of anxiety was profound among the staff – fear very clearly remained.
Staff displayed great resilience and attended duties despite what had happened. Initially I covered the role of a nurse who could only get to work after a three-hour journey, which included a boat ride!
Patientsarepatientswhereveryougo,howevermovingtoanewhospitalwastrickyandyou just have to trust yourself and judgement. It was great that they had paper drug charts and oldschoolmedicationrooms,asgettingusedtotechnologyetc.wasthehardestthing.Iwas very well supported to look after a group of patients with a buddy – in a team, which was a safe method.
The staff in the ward were very grateful for the deployed staff working in the hospital (there were a handful I bumped into – senior nurses). I got a lot of thanks and folks took thetime to talk - which was also great as I needed a ride home after the PM shifts! I did inform them if we have volcano trouble, I do expect their assistance; they agreed.
TheareabetweenNapierandHastingswasmyfirstimpressionofthebay–itwasprofoundly disrupted. Along withthe awesome staff I met in the Baythe driveinto Hastings will staywith me asthe force of mother nature was dramatic.
