Medics' Indian mission
A TEAM from Sheffield Children's Hospital visited India to perform life-changing operations on youngsters. Eight surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses, plus a senior nurse from Barnsley Hospital, carried out operations on 85 children in a week in Bangalore.
Many of the children had cerebral palsy and needed help for complex bone and muscle conditions including severe club foot.
The team, led by consultant orthopaedic surgeon James Fernandes, worked up to 14 hours a day.
Specialists from America and India also performed surgery as part of a charity-inspired mission.
Senior staff nurse Amanda Armitage said: "A lot of the children saw their treatment as a miracle.
"An 11-year-old boy, who hadn't been able to stand but walked the day after his operation, said to us 'I'm not bothered about the pain I just want my miracle'."
Anita Pearson, a theatre sister at the Children's Hospital, said the visit was an inspiring experience.
"I feel I was privileged to go, it was about sharing our skills and experience, but we also learned so much and it was good for our own professional development. The hospital staff worked very well together."
Children were able to benefit from specialist treatment developed in Sheffield, and the team is hoping to return next year to carry out more operations.
The medics were given study leave by Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust and the trip was part funded by Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust.
Poor youngsters in India with limb deformities often have to beg on the streets as the only way of making money for their families.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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