The London bombings: a hospital doctor's experience
BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7509.166 (Published 14 July 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:166
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Sir,
I was heartened that the doctors and staff of the BMA reacted with
such profedsionalism and humanity on the 7th July 2005.
Nevertheless, I was equally dismayed to see that the memorial service
for the dead and injured was attended by religious leaders.
Surely, with the benefit of history where religions of all types and
flavours have been culpable in generating intra-religious and inter-
religious murder and strife, including London on the 7th July, it would
have been wiser to have a Secular remembrance service? The increasing
religionisation of our society is a great danger to all of us; look at the
experiences in Northern Ireland if the middle-east seems too far away.
Religious leaders need less encouragement, not more. Polly Toynbee
recently wrote an excellent article on the dangers we now face [1] and I
commend it to all members. I feel that religion should be kept out of the
BMA, especially at times like these.
I am aware that I am a member of a minority, but a large one at that,
and there are many like-thinking people, many of whom are MPs and major
figures in our society and many of whom are members of the National
Secular Society.
Yours sincerely
[1]
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/comment/0,,1534016,00.html
Competing interests:
The suthor is a member of the National Secular Society
Competing interests: No competing interests
Thank you for reading my article. The list of specialties I mentioned
was not intended as a complete roll call of who was present. There are
many specialties I did not list by name, which include anaesthetists.
Other specialties include: palliative care doctors, oncologists,
haematologists, microbiologists, genito-urinary medicine doctors, the list
goes on. I did say that "every specialty in hospital medicine was there in
force."
Having said that, the original version of my article did mention
anaesthetists by name, but this was edited out. I had not seen the final
version prior to print, due to time constraints of going to press.
Many anaesthetists were indeed present, and they worked as hard as
every other healthcare professional present. Individual skills were used
but individual identities and egos were laid down as everybody worked as
one team.
The important point is not who was present or absent, or who got a
mention in my article. The take-home message is that in times of need,
people pulled together to offer whatever help they could. I hope the
terrorists realise that by doing what they did, they only united us more.
Kind regards,
Alex Chen.
Competing interests:
I am the author of the article commented on.
Competing interests: No competing interests
As a new SpR in one of the London hospitals put on "major incident
stand by" last week I was acutely aware of my unfamiliarity with the layout of
the building, where equiptment was and how this worked on the main
hospital site.
I was not finally involved in the hospitals fantastic response.
However as August nears and hundreds of junior doctors across the country
move jobs - we must all be aware of the major incident plans.
We all receive inches of paperwork at the start new jobs and it is
something usually ignored. That may not now be so wise....
Bombings on 7th July & two weeks later today 21st July. What would
happen if there were major bombings in two more weeks. The 4th August,
24 hours after everyone rotates to new places and unfamiliar roles? Fresh
new PRHOs in hospitals they barely know where the canteen is let alone
what to do in major problem.
It is just a plea to all - READ that PAPERWORK especially if you are in a
big city hospital!
Dr HOLTON
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
I read with great pride your letter describing events that went on in
your hospital on the day of the London Bombings.I must say I have also
felt proud to be a Healthcare professional and indeed a Londoner.
I have however looked through you roll call of personnel who came out to
help on the day.The list is quite long.Porters and GPs got a mention not
to talk of non -clinical physicians.I have failed to spot any mention of
Anaesthetists present and I wonder if there are none in your hospital of
if they did not take part in events on the day.And what about those who
would have needed emergency surgery?
I happened to be on call at my hospital on the day and almost the whole
department of Anaesthetics came down to offer help as we were put on Major
incident alert.In the end we did not receive any patients but I must say I
was proud of the enthusiasm showed by all healthcare workers in my trust.
I dont know how other readers feel especially my fellow anaesthetists but
I am sure a bit of clarification will be helpful.
Many thanks.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
How nice it is to read the contribution of so many medical and
paramedical staff and whole lot of others to the situation of London
bombing. It gladdens the heart to see so much unity at moments of such
crises. My heartfelt condolences to those families who lost their loved
ones and the medical profession must draw inspiration at the unconditional
offering of help from so many quarters. One prays to God that such a thing
never happens again in any part of the world.
Dr Krishna Raman
Chennai , India
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
It was quite interesting to read the various articles on this tragic
event for which we were “all prepared”. Various political figures have
been quoted as saying that Britain was prepared for such eventualities
through its struggle in Ireland, with the 1974 Birmingham bombing used as
the case-in-point example. What we tend to forget, in our ignorance and
pride, is the fact that this new threat is somewhat larger, more factual
and will be unfortunately more likely to recur.
The London bombings brought to my mind a flashback of my experiences
in the Middle East, particularly while working at the Assaf Harofeh
Medical Centre in Zerifin, Israel, in my student years. I believe that
what we can learn from such peoples and places is second to none. Their
experience is mostly through day to day experience(1;2) not simulation and
their learning is driven by need not media or political figures.
And what about the social and humane aspect? Perhaps we could learn
how they manage to work in multi-ethnic teams by putting their differences
second to the medical and social needs of their patients. Perhaps we could
start thinking about the psychological effect on both health caring staff
and patients.
Terrorist bombings challenges even the most experienced medical
facilities(3). Clearly, international sharing of knowledge, information,
and expertise on the medical management (and beyond) of the aftermath of
such dreadied activities is pivotal in assisting us to mould an
appropriately prepared NHS(4).
Reference List
(1) Kluger Y, Mayo A, Soffer D, Aladgem D, Halperin P. Functions and
principles in the management of bombing mass casualty incidents: lessons
learned at the Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center. Eur J Emerg Med 2004
Dec;11(6):329-34.
(2) Rodoplu U, Arnold JL, Tokyay R, Ersoy G, Cetiner S, Yucel T.
Mass-casualty terrorist bombings in Istanbul, Turkey, November 2003:
report of the events and the prehospital emergency response. Prehospital
Disaster Med 2004 Apr;19(2):133-45.
(3) Almogy G, Belzberg H, Mintz Y, Pikarsky AK, Zamir G, Rivkind AI.
Suicide bombing attacks: update and modifications to the protocol. Ann
Surg 2004 Mar;239(3):295-303.
(4) Schreiber S, Yoeli N, Paz G, Barbash GI, Varssano D, Fertel N,
et al. Hospital preparedness for possible nonconventional casualties: an
Israeli experience. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2004 Sep;26(5):359-66.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Memorial Service for the 7th July Victims
Dr Savage (Rapid Responses) is concerned that religious leaders
attended, and gave focus to the memorial service. As a member of the
National Secular Society, he feels that it is Religion that has got us
into much of the mess that we are in. He would like it excluded from the
BMA.
Surely, as doctors, it is our job to use our knowledge of human
biology to show everyone that we are all Very Similar to one another.
Members of all religions, including secularism, share nearly all the same
DNA, physical charactaristics, mental functioning as well as hopes and
fears. It is our job to ensure that No One is excluded.
Competing interests:
I am Jewish
Competing interests: No competing interests