bsb medical

Who can join the Medical Team?

Doctors (post Foundation Years)
Paramedics
Ambulance Technicians (limited numbers)
Nurses (limited numbers)
Radiographers (limited numbers)
There are currently no available places for Physiotherapists or Medical Car Drivers

bsb rules specifiy doctors and paramedics trackside. They also specify a limited number of medical car drivers and medical centre staff. These are the only people who are on the event's official team and the only people who get paid expenses.
There is a possibility for ambulance technicians to join the St John teams who staff the trackside ambulances. No expenses are paid for this but you get entry and a guest pass to the event and lunch!

If you are interested in coming along, send an email to arrange to attend a meeting as an observer and find out more.

For more information on motorracing medics, look at the Motorcycle Race Doctors web site which contains information on track personnel, officials and ACU as well as mcrcb regulations on personnel.

What do paramedics need to join bsb?
Paramedics must be registered with the HPC and work in regular NHS practice. Paramedics wishing to join who do not fit these criteria can apply to have their cases considered on an individual basis by members of the Medical Panel. We encourage people to try to attend a marshals' training day as this covers track safety and procedures and to become a member of the MSA (Motor Sports Association - it's free.

If you would like to come to a meeting we will double you up with another member of the team so that you can find out what is entailed in providing medical cover for a bike meeting. No expenses are paid to observers but we do give you lunch! Once both you and we are happy that you work unsupervised, you can do so and are then eligible to get expenses.

Please bring a copy of your current HPC certificate to the first meeting. Paramedics are covered by insurance arranged by mcrcb for bsb events (practice and race days) The insurers are the Medical Indemnity Register. You may wish to hold your own personal insurance as well. We expect you to update us if there are any changes in your clinical practice or status and we reserve the right to review your position if circumstances change.

What do doctors need to join bsb?
Doctors must hold full registration with the GMC, not be subject to APS conditions* and have their own medical indemnity insurance. The BMA have published new guidelines regarding experience and competency. For inclusion in the bsb medical team, we require that you hold a substantive post within NHS medical practice. We would strongly recommend that you have completed further trauma training (see BMA advice) and keep your practical skills current. Doctors wishing to join who do not fit these criteria can apply to have their cases considered on an individual basis by members of the Medical Panel. We encourage people to try to attend a marshals' training day as this covers track safety and procedures. We would also encourage you to become MSA (Motor Sports Association) registered - it's free.

Just the same as paramedics, doctors are doubled up with someone else until both we and they are sure that they can and want to work without supervision.

Please bring a copy of your current GMC and medical indemnity insurance certificates to the first meeting. We expect you to update us if there are any changes in your clinical practice or status. We reserve the right to review your position if circumstances change.

*APS - Approved Practice Setting
Foundation Year doctors (FY1 and FY2) are required by the GMC to work in an Approved Practice Setting - usually an NHS hospital. These places have been checked by the GMC and have shown that they provide teaching, training, appraisal and other requirements necessary for doctors in the first two years of practice. Although a doctor gets full registration after the first year of practice, they still have to work within an APS for a further year. Overseas doctors may also have to work within an APS for a specified period of time. No race meeting or circuit has APS status and therefore FY1, FY2 and any other doctor required to work in an APS cannot work at bsb meetings. You may, however, attend as an observer and be doubled up trackside with a member of the team. You will not receive expenses but will get free entry into the meeting and lunch.

I am a nurse, can I work at a bsb meeting?
Two nurses cover the Medical Centre on race days. They are required to be experienced and current in A&E work and hold substantive NHS posts. There are often nurses who regularly run the Medical Centre for that circuit, so often a nurse from bsb is not required and therefore there are not many opportunities for nurses to work. However, if you are interested in knowing more, contact the coordinator.

I am a radiographer, can I work at a bsb meeting?
There are limited number of places for radiographers. You must be working in clinical practice with experience in Xraying acute injuries and be fully registered and insured. If you are interested, contact the coordinator and come along and find out more.

I am in a Profession Allied to Medicine (PAM eg EMT / ODP) can I work at a bsb meeting?
EMTs, ODPs and other professions are not recognised in Superbikes for expenses. However, given the number of enquiries we have had from people in professions allied to medicine, we are piloting the possibility of PAMs joining the St John trackside ambulance teams. If you are already an ambulance technician this should be straightforward. Others may need to take the St John Technician course to familiarise themselves with the vehicles and procedures. If you're interested, contact the coordinator.

In exceptional circumstances, an individual may be allowed to go trackside accompanied by another member of the team and with the agreement of the Chief Medical Officer.
If an EMT comes from a paramedic background and still is currently registered as a paramedic, they can work in this role.

Do I need insurance?
Doctors must have medical indemnity insurance. Paramedics are covered by the bsb insurance for practice and race days during the bsb rounds but not for testing events.

Who gets paid?
The paramedics, doctors and medical car drivers who work on the track and Medical Centre get paid expenses, as do the two nurses covering the Medical Centre.
Doctors expenses are £155 per day and paramedics, radiographers and nurses £115.
These expenses must be included on your tax return and may be liable to tax.

Personal Equipment
You will be required to provide your own PPE (personal protective equipment) This must include overalls, warm clothing and waterproofs (including hat, even in summer) and boots (not trainers) Overalls for the Medical Team are red with a white stripe and Proban protected but, when you attend your first meetings, basic overalls are acceptable.
Bring a rucksac or other bag for your personal items such as waterproofs jacket and trousers, gloves, drinks and snacks. You will need a hat for cold days and suntan lotion for anytime the sun might be out.

Will I get a pass?
Passes are issued to those who are attending the majority of meetings in the season. Other people will be sent a ticket or have one 'left on the gate'.

Can I bring a friend or relative?
Members of the medical team are allowed a guest pass each. Rather than hand these out routinely, they are issued on request, so yes, you can bring a friend, spouse or other relative.

Can I work with children and animals?
Do not bring pets - they are not allowed on any of the circuits that bsb uses.
If you bring children, please also bring an adult to look after them for the duration. Although we welcome guests, most medical centres have only limited space, so they cannot use the medical centre building as a base or visit for more than short periods of time.

Do I need to bring medical equipment?
No. bsb provides ground post medical bags.
Ground post bags include airway management kit and cervical collars. This is enough to cope with the initial treatment before the medical car arrives on scene. Drugs and further equipment are carried on the cars.

The ground post bag contents are standardised - BVM, suction unit, airway devices including LM, large-bore venflon etc. The bags are checked and sealed. If you use anything from a bag please tell the coordinator so that it can be replaced.

Do you always need medics?
Yes - in general and especially for Fridays.
However, some meetings at popular circuits are oversubscribed. In these cases those with the required experience and expertise, who are reliable are booked first . After that it is first come, first served.

Does it matter if I miss a meeting that I have said I will attend?
Obviously circumstances might cause you to have to withdraw, it happens to all of us. Please let us know as soon as possible by telephone or email.

Once you are a member of the team, you will be given a Username and password for the Racesafe website. Availability on this website can be changed up to seven days before the event, but if you change it within a fortnight of the round, please also email as we may need to ring round to find someone to replace you.
Some people in the past have repeatedly cancelled at last minute and have proved unreliable. This is practice is not acceptable and will put you to the bottom of the list for popular meetings.

Where do we stay overnight?
The choices include camping or caravanning (in the marshalls' campsite, not the public one) staying in a hotel or with friends.
The camp site is free but hotels are at your own expense. For suggestions, link to Racesafe's web page.
The marshals kindly share their campsite with us and have rules regarding behaviour eg. no excess noise after 11pm.

Daily Routine
Arrive at the circuit and find your way to the Medical Centre. Make sure to be early, about one hour before 'on post' time so that you can sign the 'Sign on Sheet' and check and sign your expenses sheet. Then check the equipment (a ground post bag) and let Paul Burnage know which number bag you have. The only thing then left to do is check where you are based for the day and generally sort yourself out.
Find out which vehicle you will be using to get on post.
Shortly before 'on post' time ambulances and medical cars will leave - make sure you are on the one going past your groundpost (corner) ! Alternatively, you can walk to some groundposts.
Introduce yourself to the marshals, particularly to the Incident Officer (marshal in charge of that part of the track) Let them know your experience and check which signal they will give if they want you to come out onto the track to a casualty. Other than WSB and motoGP, you do not have a personnal radio so, if you want to know what is going on, you will have to stand near the IO to listen in to his/hers.
The inspection lap is 15mins after 'on post' time. Please stand behind the safety barrier, somewhere where you are visible from the track.

Practice or racing starts after the inspection lap.
You should only come over the safety barrier if needed and under the supervision of the incident officer.
Remember, weather conditions can be extreme so be prepared for any eventuality! We have been sunburnt in March and had snow and hail in April.

At lunchtime, check whether any marshals are staying on post before leaving your belongings there. Usually we have lunch back at the Medical Centre. A packed lunch is provided which comprises of a sandwich, a chocolate bar or muffin, piece of fruit and a drink. Lunchbreaks can be very short and occasionally, do not happen at all. In the latter case, the people at the Medical Centre will get your lunch out to you.

At the end of the day, make sure you have all your belongings and groundpost bag before you leave the corner. Make sure that you can be seen from the track and wave if necessary, so that passing ambulances know to stop and pick you up! Return the bsb kit to the Medical Centre and let the coordinator or Paul Burnage know if you have used anything so that it can be replaced. Those who are camping tend to hang around then head of to the campsite. This normally leads to a good "social" soiree with the marshals.

Then return the following day to bright and early, repeat the above.