In July 2005, the emergency department at the Royal Free Hospital faced a critical incident when multiple bombs detonated in London. Approximately 62 victims arrived with horrific injuries, including shrapnel wounds and amputations. Many survivors entered the hospital still grappling with severe psychological trauma from witnessing the carnage. Healthcare staff worked in a relentless and chaotic environment, with a continuous stream of patients. Personal stress was heightened for staff, such as Mr. Baruah, who struggled to contact his wife amidst the chaos as phone networks failed.
The emergency department was cleared and at 10:30am, around ninety minutes after the first bomb had exploded, patients started to arrive at the Hampstead hospital.
Patients had to witness what can only be described as the closest place to hell on earth, experiencing really horrific injuries and shrapnel wounds.
The situation in the emergency department that day was relentless and chaotic, with new patients arriving every time a patient left.
The only breaks taken were in between new patients, as stress was compounded by trying to contact a wife who was unaccounted for during the incident.
Collection
[
|
...
]