Expedition Medic Application

TFW is always looking for experienced medics. Please download the application form.

"Among Trekforce's greatest assets are the professionalism and dedication of it's leaders and medics - a demonstration of how seriously Trekforce treats its expeditions"

Daily Telegraph writer, Tom Harding who attended an expedition with Trekforce

Expedition Medics

Each Trekforce Worldwide project team includes two medics, normally one doctor and one nurse or paramedic. Each medical team carries a comprehensive medical kit, as well as satellite phones and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBSs) to summon help in an emergency. In each country we maintain a permanent field base, who can organise evacuation (by helicopter if necessary) to a local private hospital.

Requirements

We are looking for doctors, nurses and paramedics with 18 months experience post-qualification, ideally including 6 months in A&E. Expedition experience is not essential, but you need to be physically fit, and must be willing to work in remote environments with limited resources and no medical supervision. Knowledge of suturing and canulation is desirable but not essential.

Role

Most medical problems tend to be of a fairly minor nature - stomach upsets, D&V, insect bites and stings, cuts and bruises. However there is always the possibility of a more serious injury or tropical illness. Medics´ responsibilities include the following:

• General health and hygiene of their group
• Immediate emergency medical care
• Advising the expedition leader on hygiene and medical matters
• Assisting the expedition leader in organising medical evacuation
• Support and counselling for trekkers and staff
• Maintaining the med kit, and carrying out a complete inventory at the end of the expedition
• Documenting all medical incidents and treatment, and writing a medical report after the expedition

Medics are also required to teach some basic medical lessons during Jungle Training, and while medical responsibilities will take priority, you are actively encouraged to join in with all aspects of project work and basecamp life.

The majority of trekkers stay on for 1-3 months after their expedition to take part in language and teaching modules. There are limited opportunities for medics to stay on to provide medical cover for these activities. If you are interested, please ask when you come for an interview.

Briefing, training and deployment

Our medical consultant is Dr Jon Dallimore MSc MRGGP DCH DRCOG, a highly experienced expedition doctor. He provides advice on innoculations, malaria prevention, med kits, and volunteers´ medical history. Most importantly, he runs a day's training for all Trekforce medics covering subjects peculiar to tropical expeditions.

Further training for expedition medics is available from ExpeMed, and Wilderness Medical Training ­ click on the links below to find out more. These courses are not a prerequisite to working for Trekforce, but we do strongly recommend them to anyone who is thinking of becoming an expedition medic.

www.voyageconcepts.co.uk/training/index.htm - ExpeMed Training

www.wildernessmedicaltraining.co.uk/ - Wilderness Medical Training

A briefing event is held for all volunteers, which leaders and medics are also expected to attend. This will include a comprehensive personal kit brief.

Medics are expected to fly out one week prior to the trekkers, to help with final preparations, undertake their jungle training and familiarise themselves with the medical kits.

Medics who are looking at becoming staff in Belize are also able to apply for the extra phases we currently offer trekkers. Whilst retaining your medical responsibility you will cross the border into Guatemala for a month long intensive Spanish course. You will live with a local Guatemalan family and have opportunities for traveling at weekends. Trekforce will pay for your place.

For any Doctors, Trekforce have one position a year available as a five month medic. You will undertake both the above phases and then live with the permanent in-country staff at our fieldbase for the two month teaching phase. This is a great opportunity of living beside the Caribbean and and experiencing what else Belize has to offer.

Costs and insurance

Medics are only required to find the cost of their flight (typically around £700) and personal equipment (including kit insurance). All other expenses are covered by Trekforce.

We have a comprehensive medical insurance policy which covers evacuation, treatment, and repatriation to the UK . However individual medics must obtain confirmation of medical indemnity cover from the RCN, MDU, MPS, or Unison.

The application process

If you think you would fit the bill and would like to find out more about working as a medic with Trekforce, please download the application form below, fill it in, and email it together with a recent CV to info@trekforceworldwide.com . We will then contact you to arrange an interview. If you have any questions, please call us on 0845 241 3085.

Download the Expedition Medic application form