The Medic Team!
Your in safe hands...
Your in safe hands...
It is likely that anyone who has competed on a historic regularity event at any time over the last ten years will have met husband and wife medical team Richard & Kerry Bate? Richard and Kerry’s faces have become a regular feature on Classic Rally, Lombard Rally (now known as The Rally Evolution) and 3 Castles events for almost 10 years in their highly visible Nissan and Iveco vehicles.
While their presence is visible do we really know who they are, what role they play and what responsibly they have for our safety and wellbeing while we compete? Hopefully this article will introduce you to two dedicated motorsport fans who offer their time and expertise on events for little more than an expenses for our benefit.
Who are they? Kerry Bate is Nurse Practitioner based in North Wales who runs an autonomous dermatology clinic and minor operations department. With more than 24 years experience of nursing care Kerry also fronts several development programs including the implementation of “tele-medicine” services in North Wales. Away from work Kerry manages to find time to work with Richard; her husband of 20 years on 20 to 30 motorsport events each year. While Kerry is always on hand when competitors are in a medical crisis she openly admits to preferring marshalling and is happiest running a time control when she has the opportunity to talk to, and get to know competitors. Kerry holds MSA & FiA Medical licenses in addition to PHTLS, PALS and ACLS qualifications. As if nursing and motorsport challenges do not keep her busy enough already, Kerry is completing a Masters Degree in Dermatological Oncology at Glyndwr University in Wrexham.
Richard Bate like his wife has more than 24 years experience in front line primary care. Richard spent 19 years with various Welsh Ambulance Trusts before leaving the NHS to work for BP in Azerbaijan & Nigeria as a medic instructor on land based rigs. Richard returned to the NHS in 2004 and now works part time as ECP/Paramedic in Staffordshire within the services “out of hours GP call” system answering primary care and follow up calls to non emergency patients with chronic illness. Away from NHS Richard is a regular feature at Ty-Croes Circuit on Anglesey. On return home form the event Richard decided to set up a small company that specialises in medical & rescue service provision, specifically in motor and extreme sports. Rescue-tech-Wales (medical) can boast WELSH RALLY EVOLUTION ASSOCIATION (WERA), 3Castles CRA, ERA, Suzuki, Ford & major rally championships as regular clients. Richard looked after Andreas Mikkelsen for two season while he was run from RamSport, travelling worldwide with Andreas a he found his way into the WRC. Richard’s skills and qualifications in pre-hospital care in remote environments are supported by MSA & FiA licenses as Paramedic, Rescue, Crew Chief and G1 international rally official. Richard considers himself to be very much a team player and works hard to develop new contacts. He recently found new challenges as CMO on WERA Lombard Rally and route PR and CMO for 3 Castles events. Does he ever take a break from the sport he loves? Emphatically no – he does not have the time! Somehow, Richard has just completed a BSc in Occupational Health & Safety at Glyndwr University, how many hours are there in his day?
What do they do? On event, Richard & Kerry are responsible for Pre-hospital care, rescue and extrication of competitors in the event of accident and primary care for all competitors and officials while on the event. It may surprise you to find out that most of the work completed by this medical team takes place at night in the hotels? Regular event competitors with chronic illness have got to know Richard & Kerry and often seek their advice. The medical team carry specific medications for competitors they know to be at risk in addition to wide range of prescription medicines including antibiotics, primary care medicines and resuscitation drugs. Late evening “House Calls” are a feature of the service Richard & Kerry provide, a service they liken to Peter and Betty-Ann Banhams “never to late” vehicle repair service. Post event the team prepare detailed accident, injury and illness reports which are submitted to MSA and the FiA depending on category of the event. The reports are maintained for 8 years and contain interesting statistics on injury trends which can assist event organisers in their “risk assessment” analysis.
In addition to the medical equipment, the team carry a huge range of rescue, extrication and fire fighting equipment. Their vehicle is also equipped with a recovery winch and a wide rage of mechanics tools to assist competitors who have had a minor but repairable “off”. Marshalling equipment is squeezed in to the remaining free space – in fact the place you are most likely to see Richard & Kerry is at a time control. They often run as many as 4 controls per day in addition to their other responsibilities.
Having said the team work effectively for expenses how do they afford to pay for upkeep, wear and tear and damage of vehicles and equipment? Simple – sponsorship and generous event organisers. CES Ltd of Chester (CES hold Britain’s largest stock of aftermarket vehicle exhausts and catalytic converters) are the team’s primary sponsors who through very benevolent financial contributions allow the team to maintain and develop equipment. Without CES the team would not be able to function, perhaps you might remember that the next time you need a new exhaust or catalytic converter for your car?
In addition to “on-event” medical cover Rescue-tech-Wales provides first aid and medical training for competitors and event officials from their Chester base. Over the last 5 years more than 100 competitors and officials have attended a two day course specifically designed for those involved in long distance events. The courses are run with MSA and event organisers support, hence attendance costs are minimum. If you want more information why not visit the team’s website on website link or the sister company website link
So you have seen these Guys out on events, you may have be treated by them or spoken to them at a time control; but now you can be confident that you know their personal professional backgrounds and the comprehensive service they provide event organisers. They may not be the “Banhams” but hey sure as hell are working hard to emulate them and there can be no greater compliment than that?
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