Mike Thomson and Jodie Willis, Graduates in Operating Department Practice, reflected upon their experiences of visiting Uganda during their final year in July 2014. With support from the BU Global Horizons fund, they spent two weeks in Uganda supporting a training project for the Basingstoke Hoima Partnership for Health.
Mike and Jodie were in Uganda to assist in the training of operating department staff. Working in very different circumstances to what they have been used to; they helped to develop the skills of local doctors, clinical officers, nurses and midwives in drug administration, routine observations and important life-saving surgical techniques.
The placement was part of a longer term commitment to assist in the training of existing staff.
“as a team we were very excited to hear of Mike and Jodie’s experiences and how, no matter where you are, the essential skills of patient care during the perioperative period are transferable, no matter what environment you are in” Lesley Elcock, Practice Fellow in Perioperative Practice, Programme Lead – Dip (HE) Operating Department Practice, HSC.