29 December 2004

NSW medical personnel deploying to assist tsunami victims

15 NSW doctors, nurses and paramedics will today join two disaster response teams being deployed to assist victims of the tsunami disaster.

NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma said the teams were being assembled under the Commonwealth Government’s Overseas Response Plan.

“NSW has been asked to provide acute medical support and co-ordinate medical team configurations for an initial two week period,” Mr Iemma said.

Two medical teams drawn from around Australia will be deployed today from RAAF Richmond.

NSW medical staff include:

• Dr Michael Flynn (Team Leader) Medical Director of NSW Ambulance Service
• Dr Brian Pezzutti (Anaesthetist)
• Dr David Scott (Anaesthetist)
• Dr Paul Durkin (Anaesthetist)
• Dr Alan Garner (Emergency Physician)
• Dr James Branley (Infectious Diseases)
• Dr Jeremy McAnulty (Public Health)
• Jeff Gilchrist (Paramedic)
• Adrian Humphrey (Paramedic)
• Liz Cloughessy (Emergency Nurse)
• Lisa Dillon (Emergency Nurse)
• Majorie Raggett (Operating Room Nurse)
• Raymond Southern (Operating Room Nurse)
• Rhonda Cowdaray (Operating Room Nurse)
• Dr Ken Harrison (Logistics – Medical)

NSW Health is also providing medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

NSW officials are involved in the integrated disaster response planning with Commonwealth agencies and will provide further assistance as requested.

“I would take this opportunity to thank NSW medical staff for their willingness to respond so quickly to a tragedy of this magnitude,” Mr Iemma said.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au