The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Trauma Committee expresses its immense gratitude to the staff who have worked tirelessly to treat the injured, and whose commitment will continue - providing immediate care in the days to come and supporting patients through the challenging journey of recovery. This gratitude extends to the first responders and triage teams who treated severe trauma casualties on an unprecedented scale with skill and composure.
Since Sunday, multidisciplinary trauma teams have treated 42 victims across eight hospitals. These teams comprise surgeons from all nine specialties as well as specialists in emergency medicine, intensive care, nursing, allied health and support staff. They work under extraordinary pressure to provide complex, high-acuity care in confronting circumstances, and now face the continuing task of supporting the recovery and ongoing care. Their expertise and dedication in the wake of tragedy have made the College very proud.
We also convey our heartfelt sympathies to the victims suffering from their ongoing injuries and wish them the very best on their road to recovery. The journey through trauma is seldom over once a patient leaves the hospital: many require intense and lengthy rehabilitation and may sustain life-changing injuries and disabilities. Our thoughts are with all those injured, their families and loved ones.
Dr Matthew Hope
Chair, RACS Trauma Committee
