The Newsletter of The Sandpiper Trust - A Scottish Charity

Issue No 4

Scottish Charity SC031165

The Newsletter of The Sandpiper Trust - A Scottish Charity THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS EDINBURGH

In March 2007 Penny and Aly Dickson from The Sandpiper Trust proudly donated four bags to Dr Richard Fairhurst and Professor Keith Porter from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. This esteemed centre of medical excellence established in 1505 continues to promote the highest standards of surgical practice. From its earliest origins the College has been an examining body concerned with the setting and maintenance of professional standards. The Sandpiper Bag has now been chosen by the College for use in their examinations. Candidates will in future be tested using the standardised medical equipment. during accident and emergency procedures. Following such an endorsement, great praise and thanks are due to the Trust‘s medical advisers from BASICS Scotland who created the concept and designed the contents of the Sandpiper Bag thereby ensuring the future success of the Trust by leaving a fitting and lasting memorial to Sandy Dickson, a 14 year old Scottish lad who drowned in a remote lake in Canada.

650 Sandpiper Bags have so far been donated by the Trust to doctors and nurses throughout rural Scotland "At least we know that everything humanly possible was done for him!" was repeated many times by different people ―I hauled the kit up a long drive and on up the stairs where I immediately set about trying to resuscitate. The bag with all its medical equipment was open in the bedroom - but to no avail. A terrible tragedy for all. I went out to break the news to the family and found the whole of the wee hamlet gathered around offering support. Profuse praise and thanks were heaped on your humble servant and the Sandpiper bag. The ethos of Sandpiper was the subject of much praise and thanks. The pain of the loss was tempered by the fact that everyone tried so hard to save him. The effort expended and the equipment at hand brought some solace in such dire distress. The work of the fundraisers at The Sandpiper Trust were toasted over tea & coffee. Even in loss, the support and sterling efforts of The Sandpiper Trust are invaluable. Once again, thank you one-and-all for enabling me to do my utmost in such circumstances. GP-Highland Contacts for the Sandpiper Trust :

Web site : www.sandpipertrust.org

Aly or Penny Dickson : The Broich, Doune, Perthshire FK16 6HJ : Tel: 01786 841 866 or E-Mail: [email protected] Claire Maitland : Dowalty, Crathes, Banchory, Kincardineshire AB 31 5JJ : Tel; 01330 844 606 or E-Mail: [email protected]

The aims and objectives of The Sandpiper Trust The Sandpiper Trust provides doctors and nurses in remote and rural parts of Scotland, who have been specially trained in accident and emergency skills through BASICS ( The British Association of Immediate Care , Scotland) with appropriate medical equipment known as Sandpiper Bags. The kits costing over £1000 each include over 50 essential general medical and paediatric items. The Sandpiper Bag enables lifesaving “ pre-hospital “ procedures to be carried out during that critical period known as the “Golden Hour” when in the more remote and rural parts of Scotland an ambulance may be several hours away. The Sandpiper Bags with their uniform layout and contents have now become recognised as an international standard of immediate care.

What the doctors say ! It is difficult to describe the countless times the Sandpiper bag has been of use. Practising in Tomintoul which is relatively remote, it is a constant companion on all emergency calls. Last month a patient had a heart attack and of course the indispensable bag was in action again, providing oxygen, IV line, etc. A car crash not so long ago and the cervical collar and immobilisation until the ambulance arrived for more definitive care prior to evacuation. And so it goes on. Previously, care in the practice was provided using a collection of boxes and bags with the ever present worry that something would be forgotten as one set off. The bag has no doubt saved lives but as with all good companions, has come to be taken a bit for granted. All that can be said is thank you for setting up such a splendid facility and carry on the good work. GP-Grampian

The loneliest island—St Kilda now has a bag.

―The racehorse bolted for approx three miles over remote and rough terrain with the rider still on board. The horse eventually lost his footing going round a corner, throwing the rider off. He had sustained significant injuries including a tension pneumothorax. With my Sandpiper Bag to hand I was able to stabilise him sufficiently for him to survive over one hours drive to Borders General Hospital. He is a young married man with children, so you can well imagine how thankful I am that I had the necessary equipment and I would like to express my gratitude again for all the work Sandpiper are continuing to do for pre-hospital care.‖ – GP Hawick.

The Blue Light by Dr Ken B Moody Contrary to what TV dramas would have us believe, much of general practice is actually fairly humdrum. Days go by without anything of particular novelty or interest occurring. It is the excitement of the emergency situation that pumps the adrenaline, quickens the pulse and dries the throat. It serves to remind us what we were trained to do, and few doctors shy away from the challenges it brings. By its very nature the emergency is unexpected, unpredictable and, well, pretty unbeatable to tell you the truth. Living rurally , we are removed from the main hospitals are sometimes find ourselves being and feeling isolated. It is in Critical and Emergency care that proximity to treatment matters most. Local and medical knowledge of our patients, and even the familiar geography, can make a vital difference. As rural doctors, often first on the scene, we need to carry with us quite a collection of emergency equipment. By far the most important and useful item in the boot of my car is my Sandpiper bag. This is a comprehensive kit bag that was designed and equipped by doctors who work regularly in roadside/bedside/countryside emergency care. These bags are gifted to appropriately trained medics by the Sandpiper Trust. It is the Trust’s hope that lives will be saved through the ready availability of this emergency equipment. The week after I received my bag, I attended a biker who failed to negotiate a corner, striking a telegraph pole. His shoulder was shattered and a damaged lung rapidly filled with blood. I quickly placed him in a cervical collar, drained his lung and got him promptly off to hospital. I am sure I did not save his life but felt so much more confident at the availability of the bag and its contents and also at the expert tuition from BASICS, Scotland, fresh in my memory.

Grateful thanks to all those who have helped Anna Maitland writes— ―In chapel, Gavin Hastings spoke of the achievements the Trust has made so far, including stories of how the Sandpiper Bag has saved lives. After chapel, a group of students got a glimpse of the celebrity lifestyles whilst being photographed by the Edinburgh ‗paparazzi‘ alongside Gavin. There were many different rugby shirts seen around school that day, from the usual club and national shirts, to the fancier Ralph Lauren and Lacoste shirts. The day proved to be a great success, raising £450 for the Trust.‖

Pupils from St Leonards/ New Park School in St Andrews have raised almost £3200 for the Trust following a most energetic fun run. Headmaster, Andrew Donald and some of the children present a cheque for an incredible £ 3199.40 to Aly Dickson. ― Who said winning was no longer appropriate ! ―

More doctors comments Quotation from a BASICS Doctor – “I was called out to a road traffic accident which occurred during a winter snow storm. Because of my location at the time and poor road conditions, due to the weather, I arrived at the accident some fifteen minutes before the first ambulance, the Police and Fire Service had arrived on the scene only minutes before. The initial examination of the patient revealed a high likelihood of a spinal injury. I was able, with the help of the Fire Service and the equipment from my Sandpiper bag, to immobilise the patient’s spine and requested the Fire Service to remove the roof of the car in order that the patient could be removed, from the car, on a stretcher that would protect their spine, thus preventing further injury. “ “After an arduous day, with a 21:30 finish, I was called out at 02:42am to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service as no crew was available - the nearest to us being Golspie some 20-30 minutes away. The call was to a blue, collapsed 1 month old baby. I arrived on scene at 02:55. Fortunately, the baby was recovering although he was still quite blue and had a slowish pulse. My pulse oximeter suggested quite marked hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and I administered oxygen using a paediatric reservoir mask. Very quickly thereafter, the baby's pulse and oxygen level picked up, he became pink and was more responsive. He was quickly transferred to Inverness via ambulance thereafter. The Sandpiper bag kit was out to resuscitate the baby, and there has been a positive outcome. The baby is now home again, with an apnoea monitor & alarm, and awaiting further tests. Now, I am sure that the Sandpiper Bag and Vehicle Locator played a significant role in helping this baby. Prolonged apnoea (basically not breathing properly) in the very young infants can cause brain damage leading to cerebral palsy, or worse. With the help of the Sandpiper Bag & the Vehicle Locator, the BASICS training I have received, and the able assistance of my colleagues in the Scottish Ambulance Service this wee tot has hopefully avoided this devastation. Be assured, you are making a difference. Assure the Dicksons, their son's memory is being preserved, and the heritage that has been left as a result of their tragedy is averting tragedy for others - parents & children; mums & dads; grannies and granda's - they all are benefiting in life changing ways. From them all, and from us all - THANK YOU!”

News, Thanks and Events A BASICS training day was held at Dowalty, the home of the Maitland Family, to illustrate the value and importance of the emergency training courses run by BASICS Scotland and the use of the contents of the Sandpiper Bag following and accident or injury. The standardised procedures assist doctors and nurses to use their lifesaving skills. A similar day was ―purchased‖ at the Dunecht auction to raise money for the Trust .

Brian Carlin, Assistant Director of Education at BASICS Scotland, demonstrated the benefits of the newly acquired training mannequin, donated by the Sandpiper Trust, to visitors at the Strathallan One Day Cross Country Event in Perthshire. The informative display gave visitors an insight into the potential dangers encountered by participants in countryside pursuits and the value of administering immediate care with the aid of specially trained doctors equipped with the contents of a Sandpiper Bag

The Fulcrum Challenge is a charity that takes youngsters to far off places to perform useful tasks for less fortunate communities. One such trip recently went to Ladach in northern India where this school was built by the assembled team of volunteers. A doctor always accompanies the expedition and on this occasion he was equipped with a Sandpiper Bag following a previous disaster when the medical equipment was lost down a precipitous ravine on the back of a donkey. The Trust were happy to loan the Bag for the expedition as most of the youngsters on the trip came from Scotland.

SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE SANDPIPER TRUST IN SO MANY WAYS …………. Our most grateful thanks are extended to everyone who has contributed to the Trust—too numerous to mention everyone by name but their ingenuity in raising money for the Trust has been wonderfully creative and enthusiastic. There have been annual rugby shirt days, bad hair days, birthdays and even wedding days. The more energetic have held swimming and running marathons while the more sedate have arranged art festivals, fashions shows, craft fairs , embroidery exhibitions and clothes sales. Singing and music events have featured widely from Christmas carols to busking in the streets. Dancing, both ballroom and reels, remains a popular University choice while riding, sailing, shooting, golf and gardening have now become a recurrent part of the staple donation diet. Above all there are those that share the belief that what we are doing is making a difference and generously make a donation for this reason alone. 650 bags in surgeries and doctor‘s vehicles throughout Scotland is certainly helping immediate care and Sandpiper Bags are now used at Perth Race Course, Knockhill Motor Racing Circuit , The Ryder Cup, The Scottish Open, The Senior‘s Open, Strathallan Horse Trials, Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, Tartan Hearts Open Air Concert - Inverness.

Simon and Emily Dickson accompanied by Rowena McCrea look for winners of the raffle at the Stirling Ball held in aid of the Sandpiper Trust. This annual Christmas Ball is a reel party for 14 to 18 year olds plus their families and is well supported in the Stirling area.. Music from The Tibbermore Band kept everyone entertained until the small hours in the Albert Hall in Stirling.

Alistair Scott enjoys a more peaceful past time following his wonderful effort in completing the Alloa half marathon. Thanks to Alistair and the support of all his colleagues and friends the Trust received a magnificent cheque for £1395.

The Bupa Edinburgh Half Marathon attracted an assortment of Sandpiper followers including Bert Monroe. All achieved personal records and although time past the post was a low priority - competition was still fierce. Congratulations to them all and grateful thanks for all their fundraising.

Vehicle Locators The Sandpiper Trust has funded a pilot scheme for 20 vehicle Locators in Scotland—linking holders of the Sandpiper Bag with the Emergency Control Centres. The results are most encouraging - helping improve the response time to accidents and emergencies and enabling medical practitioners to deliver immediate care quickly in remote and rural parts of Scotland while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance .

“There is no question that the introduction of a vehicle location system for BASICS doctors will save lives in the highlands. It allows ambulance dispatchers to identify within a few seconds when there is a doctor nearby to an incident who can attend while the ambulance is en route. The ability to deploy BASICS doctors alongside ambulance crews in serious incidents has a positive impact on patient care and survivability.” George Crooks—Medical Director Scottish Ambulance Service

BASICS Scotland, on behalf of the Sandpiper Trust, are continuing to promote the expansion of VLS units with the Scottish Ambulance Service ( SAS). VLS units cost £1500 each with annual running costs of £250 per unit which are covered by the SAS. The first unit to go live around Ballater has been used on 20 occasions - varying from palpitations to a compound femur fracture in a motorcycle RTA. VLS units will increase the involvement of those practitioners trained by BASICS Scotland to use the Sandpiper equipment and their provision of pre-hospital care in their locality.

BASICS training for the less experienced—Miranda McHardy Before I was aware of the Sandpiper Trust I am ashamed to say that if I had come across an accident of any kind my first instinct would have been to call an ambulance, garble on about needing someone quickly, forget what road I was on and where, and probably not even name the right county! I would not have seen how many casualties there were or what shape they were in. Then I‘d probably have panicked about what to do next while someone came round the corner and crashed into my car, possibly me, and then headlong into the crash scene. Not very helpful. However, having been fortunate enough to attend a Training course specially devised by BASICS for lay people, - I feel I would now be of some help. For instance at a road accident I would now know to park my car at a 45 angle to protect the scene of the collision. Then to put out a warning triangle and direct any passer by who offers help to hold up traffic if necessary. On calling the emergency services, I am now aware of an ETHANE message. “Exact location. Type of incident. Hazards. Access. Number of casualties/type of injuries. Emergency services required‖. Armed with this information the emergency services have a good idea of where they are needed and what they are going to face. The Basics course, taught me that simple things like keeping someone‘s head still or stopping excessive bleeding can be lifesaving. Giving basic CPR until the paramedics arrive can be the difference between life and death. Just talking to a casualty can make all the difference, and is possibly a way to find out what happened as well as reassuring them that help is on the way. It also taught me not to position myself in front of the casualty if the airbag has not gone off, because the power of an airbag throwing me into the casualty could, quite simply, kill us both. I would never have thought of that in an emergency situation. I now carry in my car a high visibility waistcoat, rubber gloves, a torch, emergency triangle, a rug and strong gloves (there may be broken glass about). Above all I feel that, heaven forbid, I should come across any accident on the road or anywhere else for that matter I have learnt enough to be of some help and perhaps save a life. This course was specially created as an auction prize for the Dunecht Challenge and is not part of the normal BASICS curriculum.

The Dunecht Challenge

The Sandpiper Challenge 2006 (a competition of golf and clay pigeon shooting) was held at Dunecht House in Aberdeenshire, by kind permission of The Hon Charles Pearson, in June. 20 teams took part, demonstrating a remarkable range of – or in some cases a remarkable lack of – skills. Also attending for the day was the life-size training mannequin that Sandpiper had just donated to BASICS Scotland and an element of medical competition was incorporated into the golf and clay pigeon challenge.

Gavin Hastings presented the prizes, and numbers swelled to 250 for a champagne reception, dinner and auction in the evening. The team from BASICS Scotland demonstrated their emergency procedures and the use of the Sandpiper bag, with a staged car accident. One un-suspecting guest, Andrew Lewis, was ―volunteered‖ to be the victim of this car accident, but fortunately for him, the intravenous drip was replaced by a bottle of that certain beer that ―refreshes the parts that other beers can‘t reach‖. During dinner, some astounding magic was performed by London based Opposite Attraction, and an auction followed with very generously donated items including a week in Barbados, a specially commissioned Loon cartoon, a training day provided by BASICS Scotland and, in line with the theme of the Challenge, some top quality shooting and golf. Enormous thanks go to the Dunecht Committee who tirelessly sought to achieve perfection. Robin and Claire Maitland, Joanna Aberdeen, Miranda McHardy, David Strang Steel, Sandy Manson, Kate Robertson, Richard and Virginia Fyffe and Master of Ceremonies Alexander Aberdeen. Their reward was blue sky, happy and contented guests and lots of fun. The auction was a resounding success masterfully led by Andrew Dingwall-Fordyce. Even the sale of Sandpiper merchandise flourished under the smiling faces of Alfie and Mrs Robb. By the end of the night the Sandpiper Challenge 2006 had raised the remarkable sum of £107,000 for the Trust to help improve immediate care in Scotland. Thank you all for your support. Special thanks to our sponsors Strutt and Parker, Johnson Carmichael and the Bank of Scotland.

The reason why

― I have used the Sandpiper Bag on a regular basis, including twice today – once for a lady having a heart attack and the second time for a road traffic accident. I have found it invaluable and hope to continue to use it for many more years.‖ - Castle Douglas ―On arrival at the house, I was able to administer oxygen via the Sandpiper bag mask and help to stabilise the patient whilst awaiting the ambulance. He had a lengthy stay in intensive care but is now home and doing well‖ –Aberfoyle ―Driving along the A90, a single vehicle overtook me driving at approx 90mph. The car clipped the central reservation, flipped over road into nearby field coming to rest on its wheels on an electric fence. As I always carry my Sandpiper Bag in my car I was able to stabilise the 17 year old boy, prior to the arrival of the ambulance. The car was a mangled wreck and the boy was extremely lucky to survive his accident. There is no doubt that the SP bags make a great deal of difference to individuals such as this.‖ - Aberdeen

Basics Scotland Dr Colville Laird (right) is Director of Education at BASICS Scotland and also a GP in Auchterarder. Dr Ewen McLeod (left) is Chairman of BASICS Scotland and GP in Ballater. Their special interest in Emergency Medical Care in Scotland has been instrumental in the development of the Sandpiper Bag and the success of the Trust in promoting the distribution and use of the medical equipment. The Sandpiper Bag has now received worldwide acclaim and is now recognised as an international standard for Immediate Care.

A short history of BASICS After leaving the forces after the war, Dr Ken Easton who had been a military doctor, went into General Practice in Catterick. During the 1960s and 1970s he was frequently called out to road accidents on the A1. The Fire Brigade had no equipment for releasing patients trapped inside vehicles and their only tool was a hacksaw. Patients were often trapped for up to twelve hours and frequently died before they could be extricated. Dr Easton recognised the need to improve the situation and worked with colleagues in the Emergency Services and the medical profession to develop expertise and equipment suitable for use in this field. BASICS was established in 1977. During the late 70s and early 80s our hospital colleagues started to develop structured teaching courses for both cardiac and trauma resuscitation which soon became standard practice with the results in terms of improved patient care becoming obvious. BASICS recognised that modified versions of these courses would be required for pre-hospital care if the educational benefits were to be transferred to the pre-hospital field. BASICS started running courses in Cambridge and subsequently throughout the rest of the United Kingdom. Demand was high for the first courses to be run in Scotland in 1993. By 1995 Argyll & Clyde Health Board recognised the need to have their General Practitioners trained in Immediate Care because of the long travelling time to hospital for patients following the crash of a military helicopter near Campbeltown. Courses were extended to include nursing staff and other health professionals especially in remote and rural areas. Today, BASICS Scotland provide approximately 350 course places per year. In 2001 BASICS Scotland became involved with the Sandpiper Trust, culminating in the design of the Sandpiper Bag specifically for the use of rural practitioners in Scotland and now recognised as the standard for pre-hospital care equipment in Scotland. With the changes in out of hours provision and publication of The Kerr Report in May 2005 it is likely that the provision of immediate care in Scotland will change significantly - likely to be provided by a much broader spectrum of professionals requiring additional training and provision of equipment such as the Sandpiper Bag.

Training Mannequin presented to BASICS An £7500 ALS simulator was presented by the Trust to BASICS Scotland in order to enhance their training procedures. This training mannequin will help improve the delivery of emergency skills and can be adapted to allow the candidate to identify and manage most of the life threatening conditions that are associated with trauma. Previous courses had relied on “live” casualties which were found more difficult to manage! Feedback from both instructors and candidates on the courses has been very positive and complimentary about the realism that the ALS mannequin provides. There is now a pressing need to increase the number of both adult & paediatric ALS simulators used on BASICS Scotland courses to help achieve course objectives by using the latest equipment that is most suited to teaching purposes and challenging the candidates to increase their skill competencies.

Making a difference Gordon Mackay, full time Sports Surgeon and director of SPACE Clinic, Edinburgh writes: ―We fully appreciate the efforts of the Sandpiper Trust as it endeavours to improve acute resuscitation skills and facilities at sporting events in Scotland. Through our sports surgery and rehabilitation centre we are attempting to provide a gold standard in terms of sports injury care, and the key to this is early diagnosis followed by treatment and accelerated rehabilitation. Potentially career threatening injuries 10 years ago can now be managed routinely, largely due to advances in keyhole surgery and associated technology. Less significant injuries such a cartilage tears can be managed very effectively and increasingly under local anaesthetic. Your patron Gavin Hastings was bold enough to test the system and had his knee repaired under local anaesthetic before enjoying a quick cup of coffee and returning to work. In rugby, early intervention and arthroscopic repair has now been able to half the recovery time for many injuries and ensures normal restoration of function. When Scotland won against England in 2006 in the Calcutta Cup, I was pleased to note that 9 of the 15 Scottish players had been successfully reconstructed and returned to the highest level of international sport.‖ A charity race organised by the Deeside Runners and dedicated to Heather Brodie, an athlete and mother of two who died after she was knocked off her bike raised £2410 for the Trust. Pushing and pulling an old tractor for miles was no match for a local team of energetic Callander Young Farmers who raised £286 for the Trust. The arrival of the new Out of Hours medical service brought with it a certain amount of anxiety in rural communities. There is no doubt that it has put a huge amount of pressure on the emergency services, with more 999 callouts and more patients arriving at Accident and Emergency departments. There is also confusion amongst the general public about how and when to access Accident and Emergency Centres, Minor Injury Units, or Out of Hours Medical centres. Unfortunately the press continues to feed us with horror stories which, for people living in rural locations, especially the elderly or those with young families, leaves them fearful of the day that they need to seek emergency care. For one of our older friends who suffered a broken leg having fallen downstairs, this resulted in her suffering an agonising few days waiting for her GP surgery to re-open after the festive period. Having read the headlines in the local paper she was too scared to call NHS 24 – Tel 08454 24 24 24. On the other hand, a patient living in a remote location who had spoken on several occasions of her concerns about accessing emergency medical assistance, awoke one night suffering from severe chest pain, called the NHS 24 helpline and in a very short time not one but two ambulances plus her own GP arrived at her house. Some of us may forget that although GPs close their surgeries at 6pm and no longer work weekends, many of them continue to work in the new Out of Hours Service so it is still possible to open the door having called for help, to that reassuring familiar face. In days gone by it was not unheard of for doctors to keep their heads down when faced with emergency situations such as road traffic accidents, as they had no relevant training or equipment to deal with such incidents. BASICS trained doctors now keep Sandpiper Bags in their cars. It is of paramount importance to The Sandpiper Trust that any person needing emergency care, whether they be cancer patients, stroke victims, victims of road traffic collisions, or expectant mothers, receive the swiftest care possible. The important feedback the charity receives from GPs, where the difference has been made to precious lives which might otherwise have been lost, inspires this small family charity, run from two kitchens—one in in Perthshire and the other in Aberdeenshire, to continue to raise funds for this worthwhile cause. In partnership with BASICS-Scotland, and working with Scottish Ambulance Service we will continue to improve pre-hospital care in rural Scotland. This would not be possible without the continued support of friends, both old and new, businesses, schools, community groups and of course, our Patron, Gavin Hastings, to whom we are indebted.. Claire Maitland

A lasting memorial Grief is but the fading flower of love. I once likened the death a child to a butterfly with a broken, yet still beautiful and colourful, wing - but sadly unable to fly. Mending that wing takes a long and perhaps never ending time. Over the last six years the Sandpiper Trust has greatly helped in this process. “Making a difference” is the medicine and Sandy is the name of the that remedy. Aly Dickson This limited edition bronze of a sandpiper was commissioned by Aly & Penny Dickson from the famous sculptor, Alan Glasby, OBE, GM to help raise funds for the Trust. Alan has offered to display the sandpiper at various events throughout country on behalf of the Trust. This beautiful sculpture of a Sandpiper, a bird commonly seen on the river by Sandy’s home, at Doune, may be purchased by contacting Aly or Penny Dickson at the Trust. If you would like to make a donation to the Trust please send a cheque to the Sandpiper Trust at the address on the front page Newsletter compiled and designed by Aly Dickson