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Helimed 1 over and out for
the last time - Whangarei Base Hospital Intensive Care charge nurse
Janet Brker is saying goodbye to the job she has held for 18 years. Mrs
Barker had her last day at the unit on Thursday - a job that has put her
in charge of Northland's sickest patients and one that she's held since
emigrating from the UK in 1986.
"When I first came,
transferring a patient from Kaitaia was a three hour journey by
ambulance, there and back, along with resuscitation equipment," she
says. With the advent of the Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue
helicopter service, her job was transformed.
"Our first helicopter
was a Jet Ranger that took one patient, one nurse and one doctor. Now
there's two helicopters, 10 dedicated flight nurses who've received
national training, and six doctors as part of the team. Last year there
were over 350 flights."
Mrs Barker has been in
charge of the 40 nursing staff for the helicopter and the Intensive Care
Unit, with usually five to six nurses working per shift, and last year
more than 700 patients. All patients using the helicopter come through
the IC unit.
One of Mrs Barker's biggest
frustrations over the years has been finding qualified nurses at short
notice, when staff are sick. Often nurses have had to work longer shifts
or come in on their days off. But that's been counteracted by "the
awesome group of people" that make up the ICU staff. "And the
patients themselves - some people are nearly dead, you feel they're
never going to get through and they come back six months later with a
box of chocolates."
Mrs Barker says she's also
going to miss the helicopter. "I'm passionate about it and the unit
- it's busy, there's lots happening, stuff we're doing here we didn't do
five years ago, such as renal work. Fellow nurse Sarah Pickery is acting
as charge nurse until a replacement is found for Mrs Barker. "She's
an awesome clinical nurse, her clinical knowledge is incredible, and
she's very supportive. These are big shoes to fill."
Mrs Barker will soon take
up the role as manager of Seaview Retirement Park at Parua Bay.
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