The St.Emlyn’s Podcast

In this St Emlyn’s podcast, Ian Beardsell and Simon Carley speak with RAF GP Phil Lucas from the Royal Air Force Centre of Aerospace Medicine at the BASICS conference in Leicestershire. They explore what really happens when a pilot pulls the ejection handle, and what this means for pre-hospital and Emergency Department teams who may be the first to see an ejectee. Phil explains: • Why the aviation environment is so hostile to humans and how aerospace medicine supports aircrew • How modern ejection seats work – from canopy jettison and rocket firing to parachute deployment and landing • The decision making required to eject in a matter of seconds, and how pilots are trained to be “mentally ready” • Typical injury patterns after ejection, how technology has reduced spinal compression injuries, and where the remaining risks lie • Practical considerations for ED and pre-hospital teams when a pilot presents after ejection, including spinal precautions and safe removal of flight equipment • The psychological impact of surviving a crash or ejection, how support needs can change over months, and what helps people return to flying • Aviation medicine as a career path, including the role of the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine, the diploma in aviation medicine, and how this can sit alongside general practice or emergency care This conversation draws strong parallels between aviation and emergency medicine: human factors, training under pressure, using simulation and mental rehearsal, and the importance of honest, individualised psychological support after critical incidents.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley review blog posts from August and September. They reflect on their experience at the BASICs Conference, highlighting discussions on resuscitation science and new resuscitation council guidelines. Topics covered include the physiological-targeted resuscitation, arterial line placements during cardiac arrest, the PECan abdominal trauma rule in pediatric emergency care, intra-arrest stellate ganglion blocks, hydrofluoric acid burns treatment, and pediatric status epilepticus. They also delve into the evidence trial on moving patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest to hospitals for specialised care, and review discussions on moral injury among emergency responders. Additionally, they mention the upcoming Geckos Global Health and Emergency Care Research Summit and explore the potential future of emergency medicine by 2038. 00:00 Introduction and Conference Highlights 02:55 Arterial Line Placement During Cardiac Arrest 05:27 Pediatric Abdominal Trauma Rule 10:25 Intra-Arrest Stellate Ganglion Blocks 14:35 Moral Injury in Emergency Responders 23:22 Hydrofluoric Acid Burns Treatment 25:38 Ketamine for Pediatric Status Epilepticus 28:57 Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest 33:59 Global Health and Emergency Care Research 35:09 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Episode summary Why in‑person conferences still matter in a post‑COVID world. What formats work now: short talks, interviews, demos, strong hosting. How to turn “a great day out” into Monday‑morning change. Guests David Carr — EM physician (Toronto). Leads the Annual Update in EM at Whistler. Focus: inclusive, high‑energy, “hard‑core EM” content. Haney Mallemat — EM & Critical Care (South Jersey/Philadelphia). Founder of ResusX; designs short, high‑engagement sessions that feel like live conversations. Key themes Why travel when content is online? Being in the room changes attention, reflection, and recall. Learning happens in corridors, evening sessions, and next‑day conversations. From lectures to experiences. Shift to shorter talks, couch discussions, live demos, and deliberate hosting. Format follows audience and venue. Programme design starts with the audience. Build for how people learn now. Coach faculty. Pick speakers for delivery and credibility. Strong hosting is part of pedagogy. Good chairs manage flow, time, and psychological safety so the audience can relax and learn. Social learning drives change. Purposeful social time and small‑group evening sessions create the “stickiness” that leads to projects and practice updates. Practical takeaways for clinicians Arrive with intent: bring 1–2 real patient problems to solve. Choose your format: prioritise short talks, interviews, and hands‑on if your attention is fragmented. Make it stick on Monday: debrief with a colleague, write one practice change, set a review date. Present a short “what I learned” to your team. Borrow authority wisely: take clear, referenced points (e.g., contrast allergy/nephropathy policies) back to local committees. Practical takeaways for organisers Audience first: define who you serve; let that drive length, tone, and format. Shorten and vary: fewer bullet‑heavy lectures; more interviews, panels, and no‑slide formats when it helps educators shine. Coach and curate: select speakers for content and delivery; build a pipeline for new voices. Invest in hosting: treat chairs as educators; they safeguard pacing, transitions, and safety. Design the socials: plan purposeful evening micro‑teaching and cross‑disciplinary meet‑ups. Measure impact: mandate feedback tied to CPD; analyse themes and close the loop next year. Risks and tensions Edutainment vs evidence: keep the energy without losing rigour. Access and equity: budgets, visas, disability, and caring responsibilities exclude many; amplify content post‑event. “Too innovative?” Novel formats can struggle with recognition and funding; meet audiences halfway and iterate. How conferences translate to patient care Prioritise topics that solve common bottlenecks. Put change agents on stage with take‑home resources (e.g., clear radiology guidance on contrast “allergy” and nephropathy). Encourage attendees to form local groups to implement one change within two weeks.

Recorded at the BASICS Pre-Hospital Care Conference at Sketchley Grange, this episode explores one of the most experimental tools in civilian trauma care — the abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet. Dr Ed Barnard joins us to discuss why this device was developed, how it works, and where it might — just might — save lives when all other options have failed. The conversation traces the problem of non-compressible haemorrhage, the leading cause of potentially survivable trauma death. Conventional limb tourniquets, pelvic binders and packing can’t reach these deep bleeding sites. The AAJT offers a radical alternative: external aortic compression to buy a few crucial minutes until surgical control or REBOA is possible. Ed explains the mechanism — an inflatable, ratcheted belt that can occlude the aorta or major junctional vessels — and the evidence so far. Laboratory and volunteer data show that it can stop flow, but pain and tissue ischaemia make it difficult to tolerate for long. Clinical experience remains limited to small case series, mostly in military or research settings, and no human trials yet demonstrate a survival benefit. The discussion is candid about risk and realism. The AAJT is a last-resort device, to be used only within strict governance, with clear time limits and immediate plans for definitive haemorrhage control. It’s not something you reach for on a normal shift — it’s something you might need once in a career, and only if every other option has failed. Ed shares insights from ongoing research, including its potential role as a bridge to REBOA, and the governance frameworks that should surround any trial use. The episode ends with a look to the future: how civilian and military collaboration might refine indications, training, and data collection for this rare but potentially life-saving intervention. Surgeon Captain Ed Barnard Surgeon Captain Ed Barnard is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and a Professor of Emergency Medicine with the Defence Medical Services. He also serves with East Anglian Air Ambulance as a HEMS doctor (having had many years as a BASICS responder). His academic work focuses on prehospital and military trauma care, with a portfolio spanning clinical trials, blood product innovation, and trauma system development. Ed’s academic work focuses on improving survival from catastrophic bleeding, particularly non-compressible and junctional haemorrhage. He has published and presented widely on trauma resuscitation, traumatic cardiac arrest, and the evolving role of devices such as the abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet (AAJT) and REBOA. He is a co-author of the 2025 BMJ Military Health systematic review examining the utility of the AAJT-S in military practice. He is also an experienced educator, contributing to trauma training for BASICS, HEMS, and Defence Medical Services, and continues to combine clinical work with research aimed at translating lessons from military to civilian trauma care. About BASICS: The British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) is a UK charity uniting clinicians dedicated to pre-hospital emergency medicine. Founded in 1977, it supports regional immediate-care schemes, delivers national training, and hosts the annual BASICS Pre-Hospital Care Conference, bringing together experts in trauma, retrieval, and critical care — like this conversation with Dr Ed Barnard.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's Podcast, Iain and Simon discuss the latest updates in emergency medicine during the hot UK summer. They discuss the latest research and content from the St Emlyns blog, touching on topics like serotonin syndrome, the impact of the new urgent and emergency care plan in the UK, and the use of salbutamol as an analgesic for renal colic. They also highlight the growing issue of nitazenes, a new class of synthetic opioids, and their implications for emergency medicine. Lastly, they emphasise the importance of staying updated on toxicology to effectively manage high-acuity, low-occurrence events such as drug-induced hyperthermia. 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Upcoming Conferences 03:41 Med Pod Learn 05:09 Serotonin Syndrome Deep Dive 10:22 Urgent and Emergency Care Plan 18:04 Salbutamol for Renal Colic 22:07 Hypothermia in Toxicology Emergencies 27:04 Nitazines: A Growing Problem 

Iain and Simon  return after a brief hiatus to discuss key blog posts from April and May on the St Emlyn's Podcast. They highlight notable conferences including IncrEMentum 2025 in Spain, The Big Sick in Zermatt, and the BASICs Conference. Discussions cover content from recent emergency medicine research, the importance of compassion and patient-centred care, and operational strategies to avoid emergency department overcrowding. Insights are also shared from fieldwork in South Africa on emergency thoracotomies and their impressive survival rates.

In the March 2025 episode of the St. Emlyn's podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley discuss a variety of topics covered in their latest blog posts and podcasts.    Key discussions include the implications of cannabis edibles in emergency departments, expert viewpoints on pre-hospital resuscitative thoracotomy for traumatic cardiac arrest, and the use of ketamine for opioid-dependent patients.   Highlights from recent conferences such as The Big Sick, IncrEMentuM 2025, and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) conference in Birmingham are shared.   The episode also delves into department culture, addressing resilience, risk management, and other critical topics in emergency medicine. The podcast concludes with a recommendation of Matt Morgan’s book "A Second Act: What Nearly Dying Teaches About Really Living."   00:00 Introduction and March 2025 Roundup 01:45 Cannabis Edibles in the Emergency Department 05:25 Pre-Hospital Resuscitative Thoracotomy 12:38 Ketamine for Opioid Users in Acute Pain 15:17 Conference Highlights and Reflections 27:13 Matt Morgan's Inspirational Talk 30:50 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the St Emlyn's Podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley revisit January's  blog posts and podcasts, covering several seminal studies relevant to emergency and pre-hospital care. Topics include the Sub 30 Feasibility Study on pre-hospital ECMO, comparisons of pre-hospital versus in-hospital emergency anaesthesia, variations in maintenance of pre-hospital anaesthesia in trauma patients, and the effectiveness of physician-led pre-hospital teams. They also discuss the economic implications of advanced pre-hospital interventions and highlight reviews from the London Trauma Conference. 00:00 Introduction and January Recap 01:58 Pre-Hospital ECPR Study: The Sub 30 Study 07:09 Emergency Anaesthesia: Pre-Hospital vs. Emergency Department 13:55 Maintenance of Pre-Hospital Anaesthesia: Variations in Practice 16:57 Physician-Led Pre-Hospital Teams: Do They Improve Outcomes? 22:12 Additional Insights and Upcoming Content

In this special edition of the St Emlyn’s podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley review the top medical papers of 2024, originating from Simon’s talk at The Big Sick conference in Zermatt. The discussion includes a comparison of non-invasive versus arterial pressure monitoring, the association of intra-arrest arterial blood pressure with ROSC, the efficacy of serratus anterior plane blocks for rib fracture management, and the evaluation of a micro axial flow pump in cardiogenic shock. They also delve into double sequential external defibrillation in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and provide a rapid-fire review of additional critical papers discussed at the conference. Notable mentions include the HEMOTION trial, PRE OXI trial, BLING III, and PARAMEDIC-3, among others. A must-listen for those passionate about evidence-based medicine in emergency and pre-hospital care. You can read more about all the trials, including links to all the papers here (part 1) and here (part 2) 00:00 Introduction and Conference Highlights 01:51 Non-Invasive vs. Arterial Pressure Monitoring 03:28 Intra-Arrest Blood Pressure and ROSC 05:34 Serratus Anterior Plane Blocks for Rib Fractures 08:38 Micro Axial Flow Pump in Cardiogenic Shock 10:49 Double Sequential Defibrillation in Cardiac Arrest 13:17 HEMOTION Trial 15:01 PRE OXI and BLING III Trials 17:08 Fluid Management in Septic Shock 18:37 Expedited Transfer vs. On-Scene Resuscitation 20:39 Intraosseous vs. Intravenous Access 21:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join hosts Iain Beardsell and Natalie May at the London Trauma Conference as they welcome Peter Brindley back to the St Emlyn’s podcast. In this engaging episode, they delve into the nuances of social media, digital footprints, and the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence in medicine. Brindley discusses the importance of maintaining an authentic digital presence and addresses the impact of misinformation and disinformation in the digital age. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in clinical decision-making and share insights on navigating this evolving landscape as healthcare professionals. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on staying relevant and responsible in a digitally-driven world. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:40 Understanding Digital Footprint 03:53 Navigating Information and Misinformation 05:41 The Role of AI in Information Search 08:45 AI in Clinical Decision Making 15:28 The Kardashian Index and Social Media Influence 17:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley reflect on their experiences at recent conferences, including the IncrEMentuM 2025 and The Big Sick. They discuss the exceptional quality and innovative formats of presentations at IncrEMentuM, emphasizing the enthusiasm and positive atmosphere. The discussion also covers key emergency medicine topics from February's blog posts, including the maintenance of clinical skills, the importance of diastolic blood pressure in resuscitation, and a systematic review on resuscitative hysterotomy. Additionally, they explore new guidance on the diagnosis of death, particularly in intensive care settings. Special thanks to Galen Pharmaceuticals and PM Cardio for their support. 00:00 Introduction and Recent Conferences 00:42 Highlights from IncrEMentuM 2025 04:47 Emergency Medicine Blog Posts Overview 05:10 Maintaining Competency in Rare Procedures 11:23 Diastolic Blood Pressure in Resuscitation 15:37 Resuscitative Hysterotomy Insights 20:43 Understanding Death Criteria 24:48 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

In this episode of the St Emlyn's Podcast, Iain Beardsell and Natalie May speak with Richard Lyon, an emergency doctor and deputy medical director of the air ambulance service at Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. Recorded at the London Trauma Conference 2024 in Kensington, Richard shares experiences and lessons from his talk on five critical cases that shaped him as a clinician and human being.   Discussion topics include the importance of case debriefing, the impact of video recording in clinical practice, overcoming the challenges of self-reflection, and the evolving culture of pre-hospital emergency medicine. Richard emphasizes the significance of supportive and structured debriefing processes and offers insights on integrating video reviews into emergency practices for improved education and reflection.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:37 Richard Lyon's Background and Talk Overview 01:00 The Importance of Case Learning and Debriefing 02:12 Challenges and Strategies in Case Learning 04:24 The Power of Video Recording in Clinical Practice 07:30 Implementing Video Recording: Practical Steps 08:24 Addressing Concerns and Building Trust 12:56 Senior Clinicians and Vulnerability 17:33 Supporting Pre-Hospital Clinicians 20:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   The Guest - Richard Lyon   Professor Lyon is an active UK NHS Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-hospital Care in Edinburgh and Deputy Medical Director for Air Ambulance, Kent Surrey & Sussex. A globally recognised leader in pre-hospital and emergency medical care, Prof Lyon works for multiple world class organisations, helping to develop current and future state-of-the art medical devices, systems and concepts aiming to save lives across the globe. A respected clinical leader and senior medical advisor to both governments and global corporations, with a track record of delivering high quality output and success across clinical, academic, research and innovation. Prof Lyon was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by HM The Queen in the 2017 Honours, for Services to Emergency Healthcare, after he established a programme of work on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest for Scotland. Prof Lyon holds a personal Chair of Pre-hospital Emergency Care at the University of Surrey and has an established research portfolio in pre-hospital resuscitation and trauma care, with an extensive publication record. Prof Lyon is a current member of the Faculty of Pre-hospital Care and author of several international guidelines. Prof Lyon is a Physician with the UK International Search & Rescue Team.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Liz Crowe welcome Dan Dworkis, an ER doctor from Los Angeles and host of the Emergency Mind podcast. Dan shares his expertise on optimizing team and individual performance in high-stress medical environments. The discussion delves into the concept of excellence beyond merely avoiding negative outcomes, using a rosebush metaphor to illustrate the need for proactive growth. They explore how teams can benchmark and improve performance, the importance of creating a culture of continuous improvement, and strategies to maintain positivity and energy even in challenging conditions. Dan also highlights the Mission Critical Team Institute and its role in supporting teams in life-or-death situations. This episode is essential listening for medical professionals committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence in their practice.   00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:06 Defining Excellence in Medicine 02:29 Measuring and Achieving Team Performance 06:13 Small Changes for Big Impact 10:03 Maintaining Positivity and Energy 15:30 Mission Critical Team Institute 16:33 Conclusion and Farewell   The Guest - Dan Dworkis Dan Dworkis, MD, PhD, FACEP is the Chief Medical Officer at the Mission Critical Team Institute, the founder of The Emergency Mind Project, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, and an assistant professor at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. His work focuses on the optimal development of mission critical teams in and out of emergency departments. He completed the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital / Brigham Health, and also earned an MD and PhD in molecular medicine from Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Dworkis is the author of The Emergency Mind:  Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure.  

In this episode of the St. Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Natalie May discuss hyperbaric medicine at the London Trauma Conference with Dr. Jeff Kerrie, an internal medicine physician from Canada. Dr. Kerrie provides insights into dive and hyperbaric medicine, covering the basics of hyperbaric therapy, its applications, and key practices for emergency departments when treating patients with decompression illness. The conversation also touches on misconceptions and unregulated uses of hyperbaric chambers, emphasizing the importance of consulting certified medical professionals. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 00:58 Understanding Hyperbaric Medicine 01:33 Dive Medicine and Decompression Illness 04:15 Emergency Response and Treatment Protocols 07:26 Hyperbaric Chamber Mechanics 10:05 Beyond Dive Medicine: Other Uses of Hyperbaric Therapy 11:43 Challenges and Misuses of Hyperbaric Therapy 12:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   The Guest For the last three years, Jeff Kerrie has served as the Island Health Medical Director of Quality, Safety, and Ethics. Dr. Kerrie has a master’s degree in clinical bioethics from Clarkson University/Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in New York. Over the last six years, Dr. Kerrie helped build the Island Health ethics program, where he has provided ethics consultations and teaching to staff, patients, and families. Dr. Kerrie underwent medical training at the University of Manitoba before completing residency in Internal Medicine at UBC. He practices as a general internist in Victoria, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Other medical work has included medicine in atypical environments (including dive/hyperbaric medicine, ski patrol, and high altitude environments), obesity medicine, and international health. Dr. Kerrie is also a graduate of the Physician Quality Improvement program at Island Health. In his spare time Dr. Kerrie enjoys aviation, skiing, and SCUBA diving.

In this episode, Iain Beardsell and Natalie May speak with neurosurgeon Mark Wilson at the London Trauma Conference. Mark provides an in-depth look at the evolution of the GoodSAM app over the past decade. Initially designed to alert off-duty trained individuals to assist in emergencies, particularly for cardiac arrests and impact brain apnoea, the app has grown to include applications in police services, public health during COVID-19, and community volunteer efforts.   It employs advanced technology, such as real-time video guidance and AI, to offer immediate assistance and improve outcomes in medical emergencies and other crises.   Mark's insights shed light on how this innovative platform is saving lives and transforming emergency and public response systems worldwide.   00:00 Introduction and Reunion   00:47 The GoodSAM App: A Decade of Evolution   01:52 GoodSAM's Impact on Cardiac Arrests   02:09 Expanding GoodSAM: Police and Community Involvement   02:35 How GoodSAM Works   05:54 GoodSAM's Role During COVID-19   13:42 The Future of GoodSAM: AI and Community Support   15:04 How to Get Involved with GoodSAM   16:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Guest Mark is a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Pre-Hospital Care Specialist working at both Imperial College (mainly St Mary's Major Trauma Centre) and as an Air Ambulance doctor.  He am a Clinical Professor specialising in Brain Injury at Imperial and Honorary Professor of Pre-Hospital Care (the Gibson Chair) at the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.  His specialist areas are acute brain injury (mostly traumatic brain injury) and its very early management. He is co-director of the Imperial Neurotrauma Centre and am co-founder of GoodSAM, a revolutionary platform that alerts doctors, nurses, paramedic and those trained in basic life support to emergencies around them.  Mark have worked extensively overseas (India, Nepal, South Africa, as a GP in Australia, Researcher for NASA and as an expedition doctor on Arctic and Everest expeditions). He also wrote The Medics Guide to Work and Electives Around the World. His research is mainly into the brain in trauma and in hypoxia (using it as an injury model) in humans.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Liz Crowe welcome back Caroline Leech, a emergency medicine consultant with extensive pre-hospital care experience. Caroline discusses the concept of moral injury, delving into its distinction from moral distress. She introduces three mechanisms of moral injury: acts of commission, acts of omission, and betrayal. Caroline provides insightful examples from emergency medicine to illustrate these concepts, emphasizing the importance of identifying and addressing moral injury to support healthcare professionals. The discussion highlights the emotional and cognitive distress faced by emergency responders and the necessity for professional psychological support when moral distress accumulates into moral injury.   00:00 Introduction and Welcome   00:23 Introducing Caroline Leech   01:10 Defining Moral Injury and Distress   03:42 Acts of Commission   07:12 Acts of Omission   12:30 Betrayal in Healthcare   15:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   The Guest - Caroline Leech Caroline Leech is Deputy Clinical Lead of The Air Ambulance Service and has 25 years of prehospital clinical experience.  She is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at University Hospital Coventry, the West Midlands Trauma Network Director, and the Trauma Lead for the Institute for Applied & Translational Technologies in Surgery (IATTS). Caroline is currently undertaking a NIHR funded Clinical Research Scholarship with Warwick University. Her research interests include maternal out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, calcium in traumatic haemorrhage, and frailty in major trauma. She is committed to improving equality and diversity in PHEM, and promoting strategies for supporting the wellbeing and psychosocial care of prehospital responders.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Liz Crowe talk with Nathalie Pattyn at TacTrauma24 in Sweden about the phenomenon of skills fade amongst emergency physicians. Nathalie discusses her extensive background in medicine, psychology, and neuroscience, and shares insights from her research on how skills can deteriorate during low workload deployments, such as her 15-month clinical stint in Antarctica. They delve into the lack of systemic measures to address returning to practice after long absences, how cognitive and psychomotor skills are affected by skill fade, and the contrast between teaching technical skills and ensuring they become automatic and stress-resilient. The conversation highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines to ensure healthcare professionals maintain their proficiency, which ultimately benefits patient care and the healthcare system. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 00:13 Natalie's Background and Expertise 00:38 Skills Fade in Emergency Medicine 01:01 Personal Experience with Skills Fade 02:14 Regulations and Policies on Skills Maintenance 04:19 Imposter Syndrome vs. De-skilling 06:42 Aviation vs. Medical Field: Skills Certification 08:27 Aging and Cognitive Decline in Medical Skills 09:57 Teaching vs. Training in Medical Education 12:42 Future Directions and Systemic Solutions 14:31 Conclusion and Contact Information The Guest Nathalie Pattyn, MD, MPsy, PhD, received a degree in medicine from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (magna cum laude, 2001), a Master in Clinical Psychology from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (cum laude, 2004), a PhD in Psychological Sciences from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2007) and a PhD in Social and Military Sciences from the Royal Military Academy (2007). She also holds a postgraduate degree in Aerospace Medicine; a postgraduate degree in Emergency Medicine; a postgraduate degree in General Practice ; a postgraduate degree in Disaster Medicine ;and a Master in Global and Remote Healthcare. She completed her Junior Officer Course with the Belgian Defense College in 2005, and her Staff Officer Course in 2008. She has a mixed clinical, research and operational background, having been deployed as a medical officer in various Middle Eastern and African countries, and having completed missions in Antarctica for a total duration of more than two years. Her longest deployment was 15 months to the Halley VI Research Station in Antarctica, where she worked as the station physician while setting up a new biomedical research laboratory for the European Space Agency. She is currently still working as an emergency physician and a flight surgeon. Her research interests include the psychophysiological measures of performance in elite populations; and Human Factors approach to isolated and confined environments, ranging from space to submarines. In 2010, she founded a research unit within the Royal Military Academy, dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of human performance in operational environments. This led her to be the project manager for designing a tailored Human Performance Program for the tier one unit of the SOF community in Belgium. She is currently an Associate Professor in Physiopathology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and in Human Performance at the Royal Military Academy. You can read Nathalie's excellent book "Handbook of Mental Performace" for free here.

Welcome to our first episode recorded at the London Trauma Conference 2024. In this episode, hosts Iain Beardsell and Natalie May are joined by Matt Hooper from Adelaide to discuss his unique career path, from emergency medicine to pre-hospital and retrieval medicine, intensive care, and more recently, palliative and end-of-life care. The conversation centres around the principles of end-of-life care, particularly in acute and traumatic scenarios, and how these can be integrated with life-saving efforts. Key points include the challenges of shifting focus from survival to quality of death, the importance of recognizing and supporting witnesses and caregivers, and the concept of 'compassionate resuscitation.' Practical tools such as the 'pause' are also explored, aiming to humanize highly charged medical environments and potentially prevent burnout and PTSD among healthcare providers. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:00 Key Messages on Death and Palliative Care 02:12 Challenges in End-of-Life Care 03:20 Improving Quality of Death and Relationships 04:32 Emotional Impact on Care Providers 06:41 Navigating End-of-Life Conversations 12:17 Practical Applications in Intensive Care 16:41 The Pause: A Tool for Reflection 21:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Guest - Matt Hooper Matt is an accomplished intensive care specialist with a diverse background in emergency medicine, prehospital & retrieval medicine, and palliative care. Notable for his leadership in developing critical care service models, he founded South Australia’s MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval Service. He has also co-authored a highly regarded case-based text book and held key teaching and examining roles nationally and internationally in prehospital and retrieval medicine. With a strong focus on high-performance teams working within high acuity, high consequence environments, Matt's expertise has also extended to human factors in healthcare, cardiothoracic intensive care, ECMO, and clinical ultrasound. More recently however, he has pivoted towards palliative and end of life care, pursuing a Master's degree at Cardiff University and consulting at Mary Potter Hospice in Adelaide. He is passionate about exploring new and innovative ways to prevent potentially avoidable suffering and enhance end of life outcomes for patients in acute care clinical environments.

In this episode of the St Emlyn's podcast, hosts Iain Beardsell and Liz Crowe speak with Sean Brayford Harris, a paramedic and interoperability development officer with the London Ambulance Service, about the development of the 10 second triage tool—a new, streamlined method for triaging casualties in high-stress environments like major incidents. They discuss its creation and implementation, including collaboration with the Metropolitan Police and other emergency services. Key points include the shortcomings of the previous 'sieve and sort' system, the challenges of developing a simplified tool, and the benefits of this new approach for non-medical first responders. The episode emphasizes the importance of cross-team collaboration in emergency scenarios and the potential impact of the tool on reducing distress and improving outcomes for both responders and patients. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Background on Major Incident Triage 01:01 Challenges with Existing Triage Systems 01:15 Designing the 10 Second Triage Tool 05:16 Implementing the Triage Tool 06:50 How the 10 Second Triage Tool Works 13:48 Real-World Applications and Benefits 18:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

During Winter's Challenges, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley reviewed the November 2024 blog posts for St Emlyn's podcast, marking the start of 2025. They discuss the busy state of emergency departments, critical incidents, and the importance of maintaining a learning culture. They highlight the upcoming Big Sick Conference in Zermatt and the IncrEMentuM in Spain, noting their potential benefits for networking and education. Simon emphasizes creating a psychologically safe environment and fostering curiosity, growth, and knowledge-sharing among emergency department staff. They also review a range of medical studies, including those on small bore vs. large bore chest tubes for haemothorax, intra-arrest arterial blood pressure monitoring, and the new GLP-1 receptor antagonists for obesity treatment. Lastly, they address the importance of handling bad behavior in the team and maintaining kindness and professionalism, even during high-stress periods. 00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings 00:35 Current State of Emergency Departments 01:17 Upcoming Conferences: The Big Sick and IncrEMentuM 03:43 Building a Learning Culture in Emergency Medicine 12:24 Pre-Hospital ECPR and ECMO 13:58 Small Bore vs Large Bore Chest Tubes 17:37 Intra-Arrest Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring 24:01 New Drugs and Toxicology 24:47 Care in the Hot Zone 27:12 Addressing Bad Behaviour in Emergency Departments 30:42 Conclusion and Future Plans for St Emlyn's