News

Emergency Care Volunteer

(12 May 2003)

A Biomedical Sciences student from the University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Stockton flies to South Africa next month to work in one of the busiest emergency care units in the world.

Second year student, Dan McIlroy, has set up the three month voluntary work placement at the Johannesburg General Hospital Trauma Care Unit where he will be working in both the emergency areas and post operative care wards. The unit is the busiest of its kind in the world dealing with between 1400 and 1800 acute trauma cases every month.

Dan was inspired to make contact with the Hospital after watching a television documentary about the Unit’s vital work. A series of e-mail correspondence with the Chief Surgeon began until his formal application as a placement student was accepted.

Dan from Chigwell in Essex said:” I’m hoping to pursue a career in medicine so this experience will provide me with excellent clinical work experience in a stressful environment. The help that I could also provide to an overstretched emergency care unit would also be substantial”.

Whilst he is working there Dan will pursue his research project on trauma which is part of his degree studies testing how the body responds to serious injury.

Dr Gillian Campling, Course Leader for Biomedical Sciences said:”Dan has worked hard to set up the placement as well as raising money for the venture. Whilst he is there he will live and work among hospital staff and the local community and he will be a brilliant ambassador for the University”.

Despite support from the University and recent fundraising initiatives Dan still needs to raise further funds to reach his target.

If you can help with any aspect of sponsorship please contact Dan on 07950-640486

For photo opportunities and further information contact: Jan Cawood, Public Relations Officer, University of Durham, Queen’s Campus, Stockton on tel: 0191-334-0018