During Exercise Austral Shield, an Australian Defence Force surgical team was embedded at Weipa Hospital to strengthen emergency healthcare capability for deployed Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) personnel as well as assist the local community.
The seven-member team, largely drawn from Army’s 2nd Health Brigade – comprising two surgeons, two nurses, two anaesthetists and one emergency physician – worked alongside hospital clinicians throughout the exercise.
The team shared knowledge, built relationships and assisted with surgical procedures for the local community.
Director of Clinical Services for 2nd Health Brigade, Colonel Julian Williams, said the team was positioned in Weipa because of the region’s remoteness and the importance of rapid surgical care.
“Given we have several hundred Defence personnel operating in a very remote location, the surgical team is here just in case someone becomes substantially injured or unwell during this exercise,” Colonel Williams said.
“It also enables us to create vital relationships between deployable Defence health and the civilian healthcare system that’s necessary in the plan to defend Australia.”
If surgery were required, patients would first be treated at the frontline health facility at RAAF Base Scherger, before being transferred to Weipa Hospital for further care.
The team assisted hospital staff with two operations, including a local patient suffering a finger infection, which meant the patient did not have to be transferred to Cairns.
Army Reserve perioperative nurse Major Angela Grein said the main effort was in support of JTF629.
‘Given we have several hundred Defence personnel operating in a very remote location, the surgical team is here just in case someone becomes substantially injured or unwell during this exercise.’
“But it has also been a great opportunity to work alongside the local staff here, share knowledge and assist wherever we can,” Major Grein said.
“We identified opportunities to strengthen consistency in perioperative practice and developed two resources – an airway trolley and checklist package, as well as an unplanned emergency caesarean section learning resource.
“These resources support a workforce with a high proportion of transient staff and help ensure knowledge and procedures remain consistent as personnel rotate through the hospital.”
Army Reserve anaesthetic nurse Lieutenant Kristy Stokes contributed to the trolley initiative, and developed training resources for nursing staff.
“They needed an anaesthetic airway trolley and in a week I was able to create one with all the equipment needed,” Lieutenant Stokes said.
“Due to the remoteness of the exercise, we’re an extra echelon of care between Weipa and Cairns. If the need arose, we are ready to deliver that capability.”
Major Grein said in addition to developing training resources and equipment solutions, the team assisted hospital staff to clean, stock and organise equipment.
Colonel Williams said the teams worked well together.
“The people here have been incredibly welcoming and supportive throughout our time in Weipa,” Colonel Williams said.
“We take our hats off to these clinicians who provide such good care to this community in such a remote location.”
