I am not sure if any of the Oxford trauma lot are on the mailing list but,
for what it's worth, here's my view. I spent 6 months on the infamous
'Trauma Team' and I have to say that the TV programme at present is a gross
misrepresentation of a system that works very well. The Trauma Team
comprises consultant, registrar and SHO orthopods.
Trauma is managed EXTREMELY WELL in Oxford. All of the orthopod consultants
are ATLS instructors and can actually pick up surgical bellies etc as well
as orthopaedic injuries. The benefits of having a consultant present at
trauma 24 hours a day mean that all patients get a senior opinion.
A&E IS INVOLVED WITH TRAUMA! In fact, in this week's episode the chap who
was leading the trauma by the time the team arrived is the SR John Black.
All three consultants in A&E get actively involved with trauma when they are
in the department.
I must admit that I have felt frustrated watching this programme as I feel
that the production is very sub-standard and is concentrating on the "soap"
issues (Keith Willett's son coming into A&E, that awful SHO with her
tonsils, honky tonk piano and 'Titus' etc). The time they have spent with
the eponymous "Trauma Team" has been laughably minimal. There has definitely
been a wasted opportunity so far to show a system that Oxford is rightly
proud about.
I am sure there will be many on this list who will recognise the similarity
to press coverage of the Xmas/New Year crisis. We all know what WE do, we
try our best to tell the press what we do and then we watch with dismay as a
totally b*****dised version is delivered to the public.
Andy Lockey
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Meek, Steve
Sent: 27 January 1999 19:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Emergency Medicine TV Fatwa
TV Programmes Deserving a Fatwa, number 2
(no 1 must be "Casualty")
To be awarded to TV programmes which slight the greatest medical
specialty yet
invented
I saw no evidence of a trauma team in the inaccurately titled
"Trauma Team", featuring the
youngest trauma surgeon in the country......
This further (no doubt inadvertent) insult to our specialty by the
media appeared to be be set in a
hospital without an Emergency Department (or A&E, if you prefer).
Certainly it appeared to be
devoid of ED staff above SHO level, but fortunately the orthopods
galloped in to view to save the
day and make a little boy in a collar and head blocks cry with the
reassuring phrase
"congratulations. youve just talked yourself into a night in
hospital".
If I worked there I would be mad as hell - especially hearing the
televisual A&E SHO say that she
wouldn't be on her own on the night shift bexause there was always
the trauma surgeons available
and she could call the cardiac arrest team for arrests. Perhaps her
impending tonsillectomy is
punitive rather than therapeutic. Is it that the Oxford ED senior
staff have decided to have nothing
to do with the programme - interestingly even the aforementioned SHO
seemed keen to pretend
she was elsewhere, as she displayed a Bristol Royal Infirmary name
badge throughout
the programme!
Come on Oxford, whats happened? We know you have enlightened senior
doctors who work
shop floor shifts, even if the barbers do run the trauma. Will you
all appear in the next episode,
thrombolysing away merrily, or even altering "tonsillectomy" on the
operation list to read
"laryngectomy"....
Steve Meek
> -------
> From: dannymac[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 26 January 1999 10:18
> To: Simon Carley; Rowland Cottingham; john ryan; Dr. Ed Walker; Dr
> Matthew W Cooke; Andy Newton; Andrew G Hobart; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Monday nights will never be the same.
>
> Hi
> Came across this fantastic program last night on the telly. Just finished
> Corry Street and slumped down on the sofa. Then this new series on
> "Trauma" came on after the adverts. Picked up my one CME point and found
> it fascinating viewing and discovered how I have been doing it wrong for
> 20
> years. All human life is there and learning about pre-operative
> management
> of tonsillectomies. Can't wait for next monday to come around again when
> the poor unfortunate SHO is going to have her tonsils excised. Must make
> sure I get my dinner in first.
> Saw a fascinating tampolining injury and a poor man who was knocked off
> his
> bike. The real highlight which made my night was learning how to give a
> t-toxoid injection correctly, after suturing this laceration to the
> forehead.
> Also saw a post operative management of feline amputation of poor
> unfortunate man's upper limb and his phantom pains.
> Beats Casuality hands down.
> Danny McGeehan
> Stafford
>
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