Partnership forged in an emergency

As conference delegates discussed partnerships with health, one
social work manager recounted his experience of partnership in
practice.

Jon King, area social work manager in Highland Council, together
with his health counterpart, Gill Keel, the local manager of the
primary care trust, were among the first on the scene at last
week’s coach crash on the Isle of Skye.

The crash left the driver dead and several older people on the
bus of 43 tourists from Yorkshire injured.

Enlisting the help of other volunteers, including a group of
off-duty sub mariners, they helped the injured off the coach and
organised transport to hospital. “Everyone mucked in and with
absolutely no planning the whole episode was handled very
smoothly,” said King.

Later one older man fled the local hospital. Catching up with
him, King realised the distressed man was trying to reach his wife
who had been airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with
serious injuries. King escorted the man all the way to Inverness
and reunited him with his wife.

King was praised by his director of social work and councillors
but denied he was a hero. “There were many others there and we all
played our part. It was a partnership the way it should be – all
agencies and the public working together with no fuss and the
minimum of planning.”