Water, water everywhere… and perhaps now enough for a shower…. just!

Today has been very productive. The lead surgeon returned from holiday* as did the head of CSSD. It was like a second arrival for me, with such warm and friendly greetings. There was a lot for us to catch up on and it made me realise just quite how much we have done and achieved in the very short space of time that we have been here. 
(*The culture of annual leave here is very interesting. Every member of staff gets 28 days, which almost everyone takes as a month block in either November or December)

My focus for today was to incorporate the instruments that I had brought into the sets here. I have been keeping them at home patiently, waiting for the return of the CSSD lead. Today I packed them into a big rucksack and, carrying the ridiculously heavy Brennen Skin Graft Mesher in my hands, took them into theatre CSSD. The staff were absolutely delighted, and the way their faces lit up as we opened each bag of carefully wrapped instruments was just brilliant. I have no doubt that a ‘non-surgical’ person would have looked on with much bemusement. But for us, it was a lovely moment as we picked up and inspected the various items I had brought; surgical geeks enjoying the shared appreciation of ‘new’ quality instruments. I am so very grateful for all the support and kindness I encountered in the UK when I made my initial tentative enquires to recruit some ‘kit’ to bring. You know who you are, and I hope that you can take a huge amount of personal satisfaction in the part you have played in helping the healthcare here to move forward. It is so very needed.

We made a start going through the sets, again something I would never have dreamed I would be doing before this adventure. This perhaps, is a fantastic example of the many positive and powerful things I will take away from this trip. I have engaged with essential parts of the surgical process that in the UK, where the ‘machine’ has got so big and specialised, I am ignorant and a complete stranger. I certainly feel a more complete, and rounded surgeon for this experience. We now have some sets that could pass off in a UK theatre… well almost. 

The later part of my afternoon has been preparing some new step by step instructions for the preparation of the mesh – essential for the sustainability of the project. Now I just need to find a way to print them and get them laminated….

Water flows into the tank - yay!

And to complement this afternoon’s clerical activity, there was much frustration on the water front again. Whilst it is getting the highest possible attention (the hospital superintendent, maintenance staff and now even the water board), the bottom line is that there is an issue that isn’t getting sorted. Something about pressure…. Yet we are now into our 4^th week of these shenanigans. Grrr. I even went looking for leaks along the ‘pipeline’ into town myself, and when I found a few, sorted them. This activity, whilst very hot (my shirt was plastered to my back and chest), was also very therapeutic for me even if immediate results were lacking. Later however, whilst tapping away on my computer, I was treated to the sound of water trickling into the tank (it is just outside the window the desk faces). Evidently the head of pressure had increased. It was a beautiful sound – crazy as that might seem! And we have ended up with about a third of a tank, which might just about see us through the week if we are frugal.