Internationally renowned trauma course held in Tauranga for first time

Some of the course participants engaged in an exercise under the watchful eye of BOPDHB Medical Leader and Clinical Director for Tauranga ICU/HDU Troy Browne (right). Photo / Supplied

A high profile, internationally recognised trauma course at Tauranga Hospital is great news for both the Bay of Plenty District Health Board and the community it serves, say medical experts.

Trauma physicians at the health board had been looking to hold the Emergency Management of Sudden Trauma (EMST) course locally for over 15 years and the stars finally aligned this year.

BOPDHB Medical Leader and Clinical Director for Tauranga ICU/HDU Troy Browne said not only did the course improve trauma awareness and trauma care, it improved the standing of the health board as an entity in New Zealand.

"It's a great day for the DHB, going from strength to strength in education and for the community," he said.

BOPDHB Emergency Medical Specialist Derek Sage said the course would "improve the trauma health provision in our area".

Hosting the internationally recognised EMST course at Tauranga Hospital for the first time was seen as great news for the BOPDHB and the community it serves. Photo / Supplied

The three-day course is mandatory for surgeons and rural GPs however it is also attended by Anaesthetists, Emergency Technicians, other GPs, and trainees from various medical specialities and backgrounds.

Sixteen people attend each course and are split into groups of four for training. A nurse who has requested additional trauma training is also attached to each of these groups.

The course was developed in 1976 in the United States and has since been taken up by 78 countries globally. It has been running in Australia since 1988 and in New Zealand since 1989.

"It enables those in the trauma team to speak a common language and have a common set of skills," Sage said.

"There is no doubt that this course has improved trauma care around the world and continues to do so."

BOPDHB Trauma Medical Director and Consultant General Surgeon Jacques Marnewick was an instructor on the course, along with Sage and Browne, and was thrilled it had finally come to the Bay.

"There is a need for the course here as we see a lot of trauma at Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals. It also provides good training grounds for junior doctors as it is a vital component in their training. To be able to offer this here is gold," he said.

"It is also important to recognise the work that went on behind the scenes because that was astounding; especially the work by the two nurses who ran the show – Christchurch Nurse Tracey Williams and Clinical Nurse Manager for Tauranga ED Stephanie Watson."