DOCTORS at Bahrain’s main hospital have been 'ready for months' in case of emergencies during the Formula One weekend.
Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh told the GDN yesterday that consistent co-ordination has been in place between her ministry and the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) with an operations room being kept empty and on standby.
While she hoped that the emergency response team at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) “did not need to be activated”, Ms Al Saleh said she fully believed that they were capable of handling any trauma.
“At the Health Ministry, we haven’t just been ready since today, we’ve been ready for months,” she said.
“We’ve been co-ordinating with the BMF and had continuing meetings, as every year, to ensure we covered everything we need.
“From the helicopter pad – everything is ready for them to come in (to SMC), and the administration and the emergency room at the hospital is prepared to take in the helicopter, or any ambulance.
“The emergency room has a special team dedicated to the Formula One and are on alert in case, God forbid, any accident were to take place.
“There’s also an operation room that is being kept on standby in order, specially for this situation.
“We hope, obviously, no one needs the team at SMC to be activated, but just like they’re ready here, we’re ready there.”
She was speaking to the GDN on the sidelines of a full-scale medical drill which took place at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) ahead of today’s Formula One practice session.
BIC chief medical officer Dr Amjad Obeid, who was present at the drill, told the GDN that he was proud of his team.
“The more you practice and train, the better the outcome,” he said.
“You need to always re-emphasise the main points and ensure readiness for the race.
“I’m very happy with the drill and the outcome, and pleased with the team after all the long hours of training, the sweat, the time away from their families.
“(Formula One deputy medical delegate Dr Ian Roberts) was happy with the team on track, the medical management in the medical centre, and the decision to transfer the patient to the hospital.
“That’s a step further than the FIA required, but we transferred the patient, the simulated victim, by air medical evacuation to SMC to test our evacuation.
“It took seven to eight minutes, including the landing and handling of the patient.
“In any incident of an accident, we have two helicopters, one here on track and the other on stand-by at (nearby) airbase.
“Once we activate the first helicopter, the other will take off and be ready to land here almost as soon as the first leaves.”