By Karen Hibell, The College of Animal Welfare
The flight into Kerala in the early hours of Sunday morning was followed by a three hour mini bus drive up the dark and winding roads to Lakkidi. Nine hairpin bends later and a couple of pit stops to take in the view, meet some of the locals and pick up vital supplies, we arrived at our accommodation for the week. Sunday was a catch up day with final preparations for the coming week; to include attaching specially ordered team badges to the official scrub uniforms. With no iron, a pair of hair straighteners were put to good use; problem solving and team working clearly evident in the final results. Great work team!
Monday 16 November 2015
The Send a Veterinary Nurse to India team, accompanied by Dave Smith, BSc Programme leader, Hayley Walters and Heather Bacon from Edinburgh University and Barbara Cooper from The College of Animal Welfare were officially welcomed by the staff and students of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in a welcoming inauguration event. This was followed by orientation of the university and its facilities. The team got to work introducing themselves to staff, students, visitors and patients alike. The first lectures of the planned workshop sessions were delivered by Hayley and Karen on pain management and bandaging, whilst the rest of the team embedded themselves within the different areas of the hospital on a rotation basis.
Tuesday 17 November 2015
The team paired with groups of veterinary students to explain and demonstrate what a veterinary nurse can do within a veterinary practice to support the vet, the patient and the client. Hayley, from Edinburgh University who is leading the project ensured that each area had an allocated team comprising members from all collaborative partners. The objective, to integrate and work as part of the wider team in the provision of veterinary services to the local community, and letting the clinicians and students experience the type of supportive role offered by the nurse. A busy but fruitful day, observing/assisting with a range of species and appreciating different perspectives in relation to treatment and perception of animals. Monday concluded back at the hotel with a group session on the development of key hospital protocols, designed specifically for Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to enhance and support their current working practices.
Photos from a bandaging session where an overview of basic bandaging techniques and bandage care was given. Very enthusiastic clinicians working in pairs to gain an appreciation of what the patients experience with application of bandages and the tension of them once in place. Was great fun for all!