The Inverness surgeon who has previously been helping the situation in Ukraine has returned to the frontline to help victims of the war against Russia. Andy Kent is normally a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but volunteers for the frontline aid charity UK-Med. I have to admire what he is doing, having visited Ukraine a few years back, and I know what he is facing having previously reported from a war zone and I can only hope he stays safe and returns to the Highlands next month.

AN Inverness trauma surgeon has spoken about his return to Ukraine. 

Andrew Kent set off from the Highlands for the war torn country on his 58th birthday last week but was delayed in getting there because of continuing Russian attacks. 

He is normally based at Raigmore Hospital as a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon but is spending more than a month working as a volunteer with frontline aid charity UK-Med.

The former army medic said: “I can’t believe that I’ve been in the country for a week already. 

“That said my journey, via Poland and Lviv, was held up significantly due to missile strikes on the railway. Road travel is also tricky due to rationing of fuel – a situation that is getting worse.

“Anticipating these difficulties, I’ve committed to a six-week deployment this time. 

“I hope to be home in Inverness around June 10 and have booked a week’s leave to decompress – or cut the grass!” 

His main role, as the surgical lead, remains helping to coordinate training, distribution of emergency surgical kit – following a large donation from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – and assessment of other surgical requests. 

He said: “We are planning to bring out a mobile surgical unit to eastern Ukraine where we will set it up and eventually hand it over to our Ukrainian surgical colleagues. 

“To facilitate this process, I am hoping to bring out a couple of colleagues from Raigmore, a surgeon and an anaesthetist, to be part of the team.” 

He said that he was still waiting for this to be approved but, if it was confirmed, it would be fantastic to have a full surgical compliment from Inverness helping with the situation. 

Since he got to Ukraine he has been working alongside Dr Claire Vincent, who is a medical specialist also from Raigmore Hospital. 

During Mr Kent’s last visit to Ukraine he said that the possibility of Russian attacks from chemical weapons was a very real fear for the medics who were working there. 

• For more info visit: www. uk-med.org 

From the Inverness Courier on  Friday, May 13, 2022.