The Institute of Remote Health Care (IRHC) Council is delighted to announce “The Institute of Remote Health Care (IRHC) Honours and Awards for Clinical Excellence in the Face of Adversity”.  Aimed at honouring those individuals and teams working in rural, remote and extreme remote areas, who have made a significant contribution to helping promote and save life in the face of adversity.

To this end, the IRHC Executive Committee agreed that this honour will be awarded to four categories of Remote Healthcare Practitioners working in the fields of service below:

1. BASICS Responder(s)
2. Offshore Medic(s)
3. Ambulance Service Paramedic(s) or Technician(s)
4. HM Forces Medic(s)

Nominations have been received and the winner of each category will be announced at the IRHC Conference Dinner on the evening of September 11th 2013 at the Ardoe House Hotel Aberdeen. All nominees are worthy of their nomination and include stories of extreme adversity, heart-warming stories of human life being saved and yet another view on our Armed Forces and the work they do in supporting the troops in war torn countries.  Also recognised are Off Shore Remote Healthcare Practitioners (RHP’s) who are medics who often work alone and are responsible for the health needs of the workers on the rigs. Alan Bolam Chief Executive of the IRHC said “ I have been hugely encouraged by the level of nominations received and by the dedication and commitment given.  I would like to have awarded every one of the nominees an award”

As the leading international professional education and membership body for "remote healthcare” practitioners, the IRHC aims to:

• Promote and improve standards in the practice and provision of remote health care
• Support practitioners and companies responsible for the delivery of remote healthcare, in either the public or private domain
• Enhance the quality of practical clinical skills and service provision by those engaged in the area of remote health care practice.

The IRHC is also leading the way in developing a Register of Medics working offshore. The initiative supported by the Oil & Gas Industry is the first of its kind in the industry and is well on track to professionalise the role and status of RHP’s working offshore.  The IRHC also wishes to emphasis the register is not exclusive to the offshore environment and is open to all healthcare practitioners who do not have a professional home or registration scheme supporting their relevant skills; this is vital to protecting the health and welfare of the public and will give confidence in RHP’s qualifications and skill sets.

On the 11th – 12th September 2013, the IRHC will be holding a conference at The Suttie Centre for Teaching and Learning (University of Aberdeen). The theme of the conference “Redesigning Remote Healthcare Delivery and Clinical Support: An International Perspective” aims to engender a wider debate on how best to redesign remote healthcare delivery and clinical support and effect change.