During September, the Corporate Events team of Mediclinic and ER24 will be providing world-class care to not only the participants of the World Cup Rugby Sevens tournament – but also more than 50 000 spectators each day.
They will fulfil the role of “Official Medical Service Provider to SA Rugby – Host union of RWC Sevens South Africa 2022”
With a proud history of supporting rugby, from grass roots level at U18 tournaments, through provincial rugby teams and first-class events such as the British and Irish Lions Tour or the HSBC Sevens, the Mediclinic Corporate Events team are highly experienced in the niche and specialised care required for such an internationally recognised event. 40 international teams, including 24 men’s rugby teams and 16 women’s rugby teams have arrived in the Mother City, in the week preceding the event and have had access to this expert care across their stay. The service offering being delivered includes 3 hotel tournament team doctors, paramedic support for team training sessions as well as the match day player medical team.
The added complexity of also supporting spectators contributes to the number of cogs needed within this system. To adequately support more than 50 000 spectators, ten clinics will be positioned around the stadium, escalating care to a central hospital should the patient’s condition require this. Liaison with hospitals within the City Bowl is also all part of the extensive planning, with various specialists, emergency centres and related support services being on call to ensure a rapid response to any medical situation.
According to Dr Darren Green, Tournament Chief Medical Officer and head of Mediclinic Corporate Events, “The team has been carefully constructed by selecting expertise from across the country to ensure the highest level of patient care is delivered to the elite athletes.. This team comprises emergency and sports physicians functioning in the various roles required to fulfil the expert offering at international level. In addition, a team of highly skilled registered nurses from Mediclinic.
ER24 is the affiliate emergency medical provider that has been appointed to ensure real help, real fast to the tournament. 64 pre-hospital staff, 8 ambulances and 3 golf carts are deployed daily in support of spectators coming to the venue, attending the matches and departing at the end of the day.
Dr Darren Green oversees the Immediate Care lead role for player medical. The Player hospital is manned by Dr Byron Haupt (sports physician) and Dr Derrick Evans, consultant emergency physician from Groote Schuur Hospital). Dr Konrad van Hagen, dedicated sports physician and ex-Springbok team doctor, fulfils the role of Match day doctor.
Extensive risk and disaster management is an essential component of the offering carefully guided by Tristan Manning, while Sister Caroline Murray takes care of clinical logistics co-ordination of staff and player hospital.
Our specialist care is further enhanced in the form of on-site radiology from SportsRad, who will be present in their mobile radiology unit to offer x-rays as well as high resolution ultrasound service for players. Quick decisions need to be made, with teams playing on average 3 matches each day. Getting the decision right the first time is essential in a tournament of this nature assures Dr Green.
But an eagle eye will also be kept on the field. Where match officials may not always see potential injuries occurring during the run of a game, the team of Dr Leigh Gordon (HIA and concussion doctor) and a video analyst Rob de Wet will be positioned in front of their screens to review and replay any footage of the match to assess the risk for concussion or other injury to a player. “This allows us to assess the likelihood of possible concussion, who continue playing, placing a higher risk on long term injury and permanent disability. Concussion protocols have been put in place by world rugby, aimed at preventing further harm to players’ and making sure that they receive the most appropriate definitive care as soon as possible,” says Dr Green.
Despite the expected long hours of this event, Dr Green is excited by the amazing opportunity that such a tournament offers. “We are able to showcase some extraordinary medical and operational expertise here in South Africa, provided by partnerships with SA RUGBY and incredible support from local host union medical manager, Clint Readhead. The medical support to the magnificent tournament relies on support from both the private and public health sectors. We can certainly demonstrate to the rest of the world that Cape Town possesses the potential to be an incredible host for milestone events such as these.
What an HONOUR! We are privileged enough to have been appointed as the official medical service provider for the Rugby world Cup Sevens South Africa 2022.
Our efforts are aimed at proving that South Africa can successfully host signature events and ensure that all participants are medically supported across their journey. It is a tale of collaboration, training, experience and passion for the event medicine field that brings these experts together as a professional team for the event.”