Trauma surgery
course on offer
Prof Philip Barker,
Lead Clinician for
Trauma Services:
North-Eastern KZN
and his
ophthalmologist wife
- Sheila
Dave
Savides
A UNIQUE
opportunity is being
presented for the
Zululand medical
fraternity by an
eminently qualified
surgeon.
A three-day
Definitive Surgical
Trauma Care (DSTC)
course is aimed at
improving the skills
of surgeons working
in trauma.
It will be presented
by Professor of
Surgery based at
Ngwelezana Hospital,
Dr Philip Barker.
Well qualified after
having spent 27
years as a military
surgeon, including
six tours of duty in
war zones, Prof
Barker is most
concerned about
those who are forced
to perform trauma
surgery yet are not
specifically trained
to do so.
This especially
concerns those who
work in rural areas,
without access to
surgical expertise
and modern equipment
in an emergency.
‘We have 16 isolated
hospitals in our
region, some manned
by medical personnel
with little or no
formal surgical
training but who are
in the trauma front
line,’ said Prof
Barker.
‘Basically, we are
teaching damage
control surgery -
stopping the
bleeding, preventing
further
contamination and
buying time by
keeping the patient
alive to get them to
ICU.’
Government doctors
and theatre sisters
will benefit, as
will the private
sector, including
specialist surgeons
who seldom deal with
trauma.
Prof Barker is also
part of an
initiative that is
bringing cohesion to
all those working
with trauma
incidents, including
ambulance personnel.
‘Reading the
wreckage from photos
taken on scene and
hearing from those
who were there play
a big part in
determining possible
injuries and
surgical responses.
The intensive
theoretical and
practical DSTC
course, which will
take place on 27-29
November, uses
internationally
accredited
educational material
and certificates
issued are
recognised
worldwide.
Although the course
has been run in 17
countries, including
South Africa where
it originated, this
will be the first
time it will be held
outside of a big
city.
The knowledge gained
by participants will
cascade downwards.
Prof Barker can be
contacted on 035
7721211 to enrol or
for further
information.
Funding for such a
course costs around
R80 000 and Prof
Barker, who is
passionate about
spreading trauma
surgery expertise,
has absorbed much of
that himself.
The figure includes
course manuals,
laboratory
facilities,
transport, catering,
accommodation and
admin support.
Donations would be
most appreciated as
not all the costs
can be offset by
course fees.
