The surprising journey of UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) midwife, Wendy Warrington, to her deployment in Jamaica
The UK Emergency Medical Team is in Jamaica, assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, but for one member of the team helping those in need began before stepping foot in the country.
You’ve probably been on a train or a plane when the call goes out; ‘If there is a medical professional onboard, please make yourself known to a member of staff?’.
If you are not a doctor, nurse or midwife, you may not think about it again, but for those who are, it’s a call to action. Wendy, from Bury in Lancashire, was travelling by train to catch her flight from Gatwick when the call went out and she instinctively responded.
‘I headed for the carriage they mentioned in the announcement. I didn’t know what to expect to be honest’.
When Wendy arrived at the scene she found two doctors already in attendance, but her skills as a midwife were required.
‘The patient was a 28-week term pregnant woman with ruptured membranes. Basically, her waters had broken’
With the items she had packed ready for Jamaica, Wendy set about making sure the patient was comfortable and reassured her she was in good hands. If you meet Wendy, you will instantly feel comfortable. She has a warm and friendly nature sprinkled with a relaxed wit and radiates ‘medical professional’.
Train passengers held up a cordon of coats to provide privacy as Wendy set about her examination and determined the necessary action. Working quickly with train staff and medical teams in the area, she coordinated paramedics to meet the train at an unscheduled stop, where the patient was taken off to hospital for further care.
For Wendy, returning to her seat after a round of applause from the morning commuters and staff, it was all in a day’s work. She had somewhere to be too, on a flight to Jamaica to help remote communities as part of the UK Government’s support for the people of Jamaica.
‘I knew I was going to be busy on the deployment, but I didn’t expect it to start that soon!’
Wendy (centre) with two colleagues outside a UK EMT temporary clinic in Wakefield, Jamaica
UK-Med operates the UK Government’s ‘Emergency Medical Team’ (EMT), providing vital medical assistance in conflicts, disasters and outbreaks around the world. Staff are drawn from a roster made up of UK NHS staff and international members.
Skills exchange and two-way learning is a large part of any deployment of the UK EMT, and staff return with experiences that can directly assist the patients they see in the UK on a daily basis.
“As they say, every day is a school day and I have learnt so much.”
For Wendy, the Jamaican deployment has been a really positive experience, allowing her to use her skills and experience to help Jamaicans impacted by the hurricane.
And the good news is she is still in touch with the patient from the train journey. The baby was born a few weeks after the incident on the train and mother and baby are doing well, thanks to Wendy’s dedication and commitment to her profession.
Read more about our work in Jamaica: 5 Questions Answered
