Dr Blair Munford , an inspiring legend of Australian prehospital and retrieval medicine

BIG day yesterday that we want to share with you. It was the day we demonstrated that #DrBlairMunford is getting ready to work in a preoperative clinic near you. Now that might not seem a big deal – but it’s actually HUGE! #docswithdisabilities
Please read on.

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

We have a friend and colleague Dr Blair Munford, anaesthetist and retrieval Doctor, who came off his bike 18mths ago and suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury. He’s been working hard to optimise his movements. Impossible to imagine how much inner strength it must have taken.

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

So yesterday was the first major milestone of a something we provisionally called the “Blair Switch Project”. We are #anaesthetists, #nurses, #occupationaltherapists, #simulationexperts, #filmstudent, #juniordocs, #researchers, family, friends and carers – all #volunteers.

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

The #occupationaltherapists are amazing. Patient, compassionate, innovative and also #patientcentred – not just for Blair but also HIS patients. pic.twitter.com/mzHxXpmHcI

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

Here are some of the set ups and people involved. The most exciting thing for us and for Blair was having him back in front of patients (albeit simulated ones) and watching him do what he loves, and do it well. pic.twitter.com/GIPiXvesEV

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

Watching Blair do his thing from the room next door pic.twitter.com/TyjoaAF4dL

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

Most importantly, we are his community. And we don’t leave our own behind!

Our aim is to #getBlairbacktowork by demonstrating his ability.
This is us! pic.twitter.com/WFA871g4jT

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

This happened to Blair, but it could happen to any one of us or to those we love. Let’s use the collective power of our medical and health community to ensure we don’t waste the knowledge, skills and care of those of us with disabilities. #docswithdisabilities

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

There are challenges for sure. And we need anaesthetic departments in Sydney to play a part in #gettingBlairbacktowork.
But Blair has blown us all away. 6 hours of simulation, still smiling and just in case you were worried, he insisted on doing his #handhygiene!! pic.twitter.com/UBgbWVTYg8

— Tracey Tay (@traceymtay) June 24, 2018

Hear more about Dr Munford’s story on this podcast. “Dr Blair Munford I presume”
and the podcast where he tells you about his spinal cord injury “Another Side”