Fiji Report - Lautoka
FEBRUARY 2006

PHYSIOTHERAPY TEACHING
The 2006 trip included an extended teaching programme for hospital staff on: Wound Care and Infection Control, Orthopaedic Traction, Clinical Assessment and Documentation, Treatment of Hand & Upper limb Fractures and others.

A general overview of the management structure of the hospital was undertaken by Jenny Barrie and suggestions have been put in place for Lautoka to improve its general day to day procedures. It was suggested that the ward rounds rotate in their order so that the children’s ward is not always last.

Systems have been discussed to improve the time to theatre for urgent patients, as well as planning a study to review the various multiple amputations that occur in the diabetic patients. The transition from 'General' orthopaedic wards to a separate Trauma and Diabetic ward raises many issues for the local population. Having a ward of both male and female will be a challenge to start with, but will greatly assist in reducing the cross infection that occurs between Diabetic and trauma patients to date.

Generous donations by Qantas will provide Lautoka Hospital with 25 networked computers, some with the internet. This will greatly assist local communication which has to date been via fax and phone only.
Air Pacific have offered to sponsor the group by providing 50% airfares, and assisted in lifting the 450kg of donations taken in February 2006 (25 computers, Orthopaedic Traction, textbooks etc).

FUTURE TRIPS
The team plans to visit annually outside of school holidays (April & September next trip proposed for: 24/9/06-2/10/06), and seeks assistance with obtaining at least Local rates for accommodation. The Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka would be the most appropriate place to stay as it is near to the Hospital and can provide all meals on site. When the team is larger than 5, a larger vehicle for the group would also be of benefit. Outreach currently provides the vehicle and fuel, though the capacity fits only 5 persons.

Following the week, in February 2006 Stuart & Emilie Myers took the Nursing team on a holiday they had won at the Outreach Fundraiser in 2005, for 2 adults for 4 nights on Mololo Island. The prize was converted to take 4 adults for 2 nights. A private transfer was taken from Vuda Point on Friday afternoon. The much needed break was necessary to compile the required reports and also to plan for the next trip. The team would like to make use of the time at the end on the week to take the team away for the weekend to debrief. This really ends up being the only time the group have together as once back in Sydney normal work requirements take over. One night was spent at Raffles Hotel in Nadi prior to the morning departing flight back to Sydney.



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