Clinical Facilitator Reniel Suarez and Senior Medical Officer Dr Paul Richards
Redland Hospital’s theatres were the scene of a high-intensity training simulation this week, giving anaesthetic and obstetric trainees, nurses, midwives and medical staff the chance to practise a Category 1 emergency caesarean section in real time.
Clinical Facilitator Reniel Suarez said the scenario demonstrated how quickly teams must come together during time-critical situations.
"In an emergency, everyone from midwives to nurses, obstetrics, paediatrics and anaesthetics, all members of the team must be perfectly aligned.
"Training like this helps us to communicate clearly, coordinate safely and respond confidently in real life scenarios,” he said.
Reniel acknowledged the huge role of Perioperative Nurse Educator and simulation expert Clare Ryan who facilitated the simulation.
“She set the groundwork for this activity through scenario planning and multi-disciplinary coordination; then, led the simulation of an emergency caesarean section case on the day, from pre-brief to debrief,” he said.
Senior Medical Officer Dr Paul Richards said the simulation allowed trainees to prepare and execute an anaesthetic plan under pressure.
“Trainees need to assess whether to use an existing epidural or convert to a general anaesthetic, prepare drugs and fluids, coordinate with their anaesthetic nurses, and manage the patient as quickly and safely as possible in the operating theatre,” he said. "This was a great learning experience.
“Staff did really well, especially with their non-technical skills, like clear communication and teamwork.”
Director of Anaesthetics Dr Matthew Devine said Bayside was becoming a strong destination for anaesthetic training.
“We are proud to have successfully passed our clinical training accreditation for anaesthetics, supporting the next generation of specialists right here at Redland Hospital.
"We’ve also created a dedicated, co-located workspace for our registrars adjacent to theatres, giving trainees a better environment to learn, collaborate and prepare for cases.”
He added that anaesthesia was an exciting, fast-paced field suited to clinicians who enjoyed problem-solving, physiology, and working at the centre of multidisciplinary care.
Acting Executive Director Damian May praised the team for showcasing excellence across disciplines.
“Our anaesthetists, obstetricians, nurses, midwives, and theatre teams work side by side every day to deliver safe, exceptional care.
"We recognise that emergency caesareans are incredibly stressful for families.
"Redland Hospital is an excellent birthing service, and exercises like this help ensure our teams are prepared, coordinated and ready to provide the safest care when it matters most.”