Medico Cork

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Because of EC Council Directive 92/29/EEC a centre was designated in each country to provide mariners with free medical advice by radio, on a 24 hour basis. CUH was so designated in July 2001 – Medico Cork.

A liaison agreement was drawn up between Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) and Medico Cork. In the event of IRCG requesting medical advice on behalf of a vessel the IRCG centre receiving the call will patch it through to Medico Cork. Here it is answered by a registrar or consultant, IRCG stays on the line and assists as necessary with communications. Should Medico Cork advise helicopter evacuation due to a possible threatening condition the IRCG centre will be advised immediately. If non-threatening, consideration should be given to advise the vessel to proceed to port. IRCG will co-ordinate whatever action is considered necessary by Medico Cork.

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In the Emergency Department there are 2 fixed lines for Medico Cork, one at the main desk, one in the doctor’s duty room, and also a cordless phone. All ring simultaneously. A logbook is recorded at the main desk to record the data. The following information is recorded in the logbook.

Coastguard: Malin / Dublin / Valentia	Name of ship	Type of ship
Name / DoB of patient	Date	Time
Approx position and hours to steam to port	Doctor	Consultant involved
Problem	Advice given	Delay – if so, why

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We are also now going to trial recording calls on a computer database. Dr. Iomhar O’ Sullivan has put together a computer database for you to fill out after calls. Access to this is through the computers in resus and the doctor’s duty room – click on ‘shortcut to medicocork’. It will record much more specific data.

There are 4 helicopter bases – Dublin, Waterford, Sligo and Shannon. There are 4 crew members per flight –pilot, co-pilot, winchman and winch operator. The winchman and winch operator are trained to emergency medical first responder level.

Remember that a lot of seafarers will only have a 3 day first aid course.

Category A and B vessels carry Ship Captain’s Medical Guide or equivalent – see website below for copy of this.

Category C vessels carry a basic first aid manual.
A lot of our calls come from fishing vessels that carry category C medical supplies

Information on notice board in Doctors’ Duty room:

• Information to be recorded in logbook
• Phonetic alphabet
• Medications and medical equipment on Irish naval vessels
• The different categories of sea-going vessels, and medicines and equipment carried
• Diving history and examination
• Telephone no. of duty diving medical officer in Institute of Naval Medicine, U.K. in event of needing assistance with diving accident (0044-7-831-151523).

 

Courses available:

• Communications course at the Irish Naval base, Haulbowline
• Sea survival course in the new maritime College at Ringaskiddy

Potential activities:

• Visit to naval ships for appreciation of working environment
• Trip to sea on a naval vessel
• All the above is entirely dependent on rota commitments, and availability of suitable naval vessel

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Links

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Useful websites

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Content by Dr Nora McCarthy 03/08/2006.   Next review 03/08/2007.