In November, two medical teams were deployed to the Philippines to provide medical support for victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Teams were comprised of professionals from all Australian states and territories and from New Zealand; 14 in the second team were from the Northern Territory including the Team Leader Dr Nicholas Coatsworth from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.

The first 37 member Australian Medical Assistance Team (AusMAT) was deployed at Tacloban airport and performed vital medical work and surgical operations at its field hospital.

It deployed with equipment that included a 50-bed deployable field hospital, x-ray facility, two operating theatres, medical supplies to treat up to 4000 people and perform 200 operations, 5 triage outpatient tents, and food and water purification equipment.

The second AusMAT deployment was coordinated by the Trauma Centre and was made up of doctors, including surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, paramedics, an environmental health doctor, pharmacist, and logisticians.

The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre has also continued to develop and strengthen relationships with states and territories through the development of a shared AusMAT database and with ongoing AusMAT training to ensure all states and territories have medical and logistical personnel prepared for deployment at the request of the Australian Government.