Gearing up for the Grand Prix
As Formula 1 fever once again takes hold in Melbourne, one of Australia's leading trauma teams is standing by as the event’s official medical provider.
Nurse Unit Manager of the Australian Grand Prix Medical Centre Hayley Baker quips that it involves “a few moving parts.”
“I started preparations in November,” Hayley said.
“We literally set up an entire emergency department off site from The Alfred, run it, pack it down within a week and bring it all back."
The Alfred has provided medical and emergency services to drivers, support crews, marshals and all corporate workers every year since 1996.
Emergency physician Dr Jack Spencer has led the team at the Grand Prix Medical Centre since 2002.
“At the time, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) wanted a set up that mirrored the trauma centre we have at The Alfred, which meant having specialist surgeons, ICU doctors, anaesthetists and more on hand,” Dr Spencer said.
“Over time they realised it was a bit unnecessary since the track is only three minutes away from the busiest trauma centre in Australia, so it’s now an emergency-based department that I have run for the last decade or so.”
According to Dr Spencer, the on-track medical centre is fully equipped to attend to all ED emergencies from the serious to the simple.
Though both Dr Spencer and Hayley have provided emergency care for a number of high-profile crashes, innovations in motor vehicle safety and protective equipment mean most injuries they see are considered ‘low acuity’.
“We see drivers who have had a collision at speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour that will get up and walk into the medical centre,” Hayley said.
“A regular person presenting to emergency after a similar high-speed crash would be very unwell. But F1 drivers have the training and safety infrastructure around them which means they’ll only need treatment for say, a sore ankle.”
If a serious accident does occur, Dr Spencer and the team are equipped and ready to spring to action.
“Our ability extends to intubation and, if needed, thoracotomies,” Dr Spencer said.
“Most major on-track injuries will be transported directly to our main trauma centre at The Alfred, but if this is not possible or the emergency involves a lot of people, we are ready.”
