The Hercus Building, Otago Medical School on GT King
Street.
Medical students from the University of Otago who pitched
in to help Christchurch Hospital staff during last month's
earthquake have been praised for their work.
Many fourth, fifth and sixth-year Canterbury-based medical
students worked behind the scenes to free up emergency
department nurses and doctors, particularly in the 48 hours
after the earthquake.
Emergency specialist Dr Mike Ardagh said many sixth-year
students, called trainee interns, provided fantastic
assistance to emergency department nurses and doctors.
"Things were pretty hectic. We were losing power, didn't have
working computers or access to laboratory results or X-rays.
"They allowed the doctors and nurses to get on with treating
patients."
A key job for the trainee interns and some fourth and
fifth-year students was making up packs of medication for the
many patients coming to the department with crush syndrome,
or to be taken out to doctors to administer as soon as people
were rescued from the rubble, he said.
Sixth-year medical student Felicity Williamson was studying
in the university building which is attached to Christchurch
Hospital, when the quake struck.
"It was great to be part of it and be able to help.
"Everyone was rolling up their sleeves and pitching in," she
said.
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