They took part in a new Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) program for medical staff in rural and regional Australia

The training focussed on skills to deal with pelvic and spinal trauma and was hands on with staff members taking a turn at playing patients to test out the latest in emergency care.

The session in Guyra was the final stop for Tamworth Emergency Department Specialist Dr Liz Jones and her team who travelled hundreds of kilometres to deliver the training to hospitals across the region. 

Dr Jones said that Doctors and nurses at hospitals like Guyra deal with critically ill and complex medical trauma patients without the support of on-site critical care and trauma expertise. 

“EMET offers simulation and skills training in essential emergency medicine techniques so that when a critical trauma does arise, the on-call staff are practised and confident,” she said.

“Those involved appreciate the delivery of enhanced skills, but also the collegiate support and the teamwork aspect of the training.”

Guyra GP Dr Jey said that training for rural practitioners is often hard to access and usually requires time away to attend.

“Having the trainers come to us has been very positive and allowed more staff to attend,” he said. “Opportunities like this are important and extremely valuable in keeping up to date with the skills required.”