An ordinary meeting of the Society was held on Wednesday 6th December 2017. The President was in the chair. He introduced the speakers, Drs Pamela and Iain Levac who spoke to the title: Island Doctors on Tristan da Cunha - the worlds most remote inhabited island. It all started when they saw an advert for an MO on Tristan da Cunha which took their fancy. Tristan is part of an archipelago of four volcanic islands of which only one is inhabited. It has a population of 293, who speak olde english. It is wet and windy and it rained for the first 46 days of their time there. It is situated 1700 miles form South Africa and is 6 days by sea. There is a regular boat every few months to supply the island. The Leavacs travelled by cargo boat and she described the very complicated landing procedure due to the tiny port which large ships cannot use and the enormous ocean swell. The island is administered by the Island Council who control everything. The medical centre and hospital is new and staffed by nurses. It has treatment areas and an operating theatre and is generally well equipped - in particular an X-ray machine and ultrasound. Medical supplies have to be ordered 2 boats ahead. The population are farmers and fishermen. Accidents are common and are treated locally. If a patient requires a casevac if there is no regular boat nearby then a passing ship has to be persuaded to help. Our speakers phoned consultant colleagues in Dundee for advice when needed. There is also a tele medical link with Pittsburg University Hospital which can be used for reviewing X-rays, ECGs and general advice. Medical work is mainly reviewing and treating the high incidence of obesity, diabetes, gout and asthma. She said that in-breeding disease was not very evident at present but in time might become a problem. Pregnancy is supervised until 34 weeks when the patient is sent to Cape Town. Pamela said that she was glad there were two of them. She considered life would be difficult for a single handed MO, which is usually the case. She said the population were extraordinary. They were caring and looked after each other. The community was very well organised. Young people were tending to leave the island though.
Her talk was followed by questions. The President then thanked them for their interesting talk and there being no there business the meeting was closed at 22.23.