The recording of a symposium of medical professional organised by the Tyneside branch of the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on the 26th March 1983. Medical experts from across the country discuss the likely medical effects of a nuclear bomb on Tyneside, describing the sorts of injuries that might be sustained, the effects of radiation and their duration. They also discuss how little help the medical profession would be in such a disaster...

The recording of a symposium of medical professional organised by the Tyneside branch of the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle on the 26th March 1983. Medical experts from across the country discuss the likely medical effects of a nuclear bomb on Tyneside, describing the sorts of injuries that might be sustained, the effects of radiation and their duration. They also discuss how little help the medical profession would be in such a disaster due to the decimation of their numbers. The film incorporates many of the slide images used by some of the speakers to illustrate their talk, many are quite distressing. Title: Elastoblast. Medical Responsibility and Nuclear War A montage of still images featuring rural and countryside scenes intercut with those of military and weapons plus photographs taken following the Hiroshima bombing on the 6th August 1945. In a conference room a group of doctors sit listening to one of them speaking. Title: Why Should We List to Doctors? Professor Alwyn Smith, Professor of Epidemiology Manchester makes a presentation from a lectern about why doctors should be listened to during a nuclear war. Dr Gail Young, General Practitioner from North Tyneside states that even in the medical profession little is know about the effects of nuclear war. Title: The Effects on the Body. 1. Blast and Burns Dr Mike Downham, a Paediatrician from Newcastle introduces Mr Jonathan Marrow, a Consultant in Accident and Emergency on Merseyside who gives a slide presentation on the effect of blasts and burns to the human body and the resources that are available to him to help people. He talks about how the injuries sustained by nuclear weapons are very familiar, just the sheer numbers that would be different, an ‘ocean of destruction’ as he describes it. He also talks about the dangers from fire caused by a nuclear blast using as an example the Blitz and the men needed to deal with these fires. He ends his presentation by stating that a nuclear war would ‘destroy the fabric of society’ as well as any public agencies set up to help people. Title: The Effect on the Body. 2. Radiation At the lectern Professor Frank Farmer, Ex-Professor of Medical Physics at Newcastle University talks about the dangers of radiation which he describes as ‘sinister’ as you would be unaware you are being exposed to it. He describes in details how ironized radiation enters the cells and how it will be damaging. He provides information on the cycle and symptoms from Acute Radiation Syndrome which takes place over a couple of day which eventually leads to death. Professor Farmer continues to discuss near to ground explosion which creates an additional affect. This explosion would cause a crater of ¼ mile diameter containing 50,000 tons of rubble which would be sucked up into the stem of the mushroom cloud and then falling as fallout, one of the main dangers of nuclear bombs. He also talks about how the weather can move fallout over a wider area and how it could be weeks before people could venture outdoors, but the dangers would persist. He describes the long-term less-lethal radiation has on the body. Images are used as examples to show exposure over several days and how this would lead to a ‘lingering death’ over weeks or months. Delegates in the conference room sit listening intently to Professor Farmer, some looking with shock at some the images and statistics given. He responds to several questions coming from the audience. He states that the contamination of the ground will make it incapable of providing food. He believes that providing uncontaminated food and water will be a major issue. He believes it would be years before any land would be usable again. Professor Farmer comments that humans and farm animals are very sensitive to radiation, while inserts and viruses are more resistant. He is asked about the data he uses, he explains the importance of ‘authentic information’ and provide details of where he found his data. Title: After the Bomb How Will We Cope? A graph of Tyne and Wear following a 1 megaton bomb detonated an 8000 ft. Three rings spiralling out from Newcastle and Gateshead, the death count in the inner ring is estimated to be 98%. Dr Gail Young states that it would be estimated that only 700 doctors and 45000 nurses would be left to help the seriously injured on Tyneside which isn’t enough, she believe the health service would be of little help and community based treatments would be the only option. Dr Gordon Pledger, District Medical Officer for Northumberland Health Authority is asked if he will be publishing his plans, he replied they are so ‘rudimentary’ that he has nothing to declare. He is asked if the public should be made aware of their small chance of survival, he says most people are probably aware of this but don’t want to look at the figures. A map of Northumberland with arrows pointing at possible places of attack including Hexham, Newcastle Airport, Blyth and Boulmer. Explanations are given for the importance of these sites for attack. Professor Smith returns to the lectern to talk about dealing with the dead, a low priority following a nuclear attack. Examples of what happened at Hiroshima where 39,000 were killed and the trauma caused on those who had to deal with the dead. He also talks about the problem of those to severely injured to survive, there isn’t a drug or devise that would be efficient enough to euthanise potentially hundreds of thousands of casualties in a humane way. Throughout this sequence painting produced by survivors of Hiroshima taken from the book ‘Unforgettable Fire’. Title: Prevention Rather than Cure Professor Smith is asked if he is aware of alternative to the issues being discussed, he explains that knowing something of the ‘scale of horror’ a nuclear war would bring, the medical profession should make a clear statement against the use of nuclear weapons on any enemy. The room breaks into applause. Dr Andy Haines, Senior Lecturer in General Practice in London proposes the ban on free testing and construction of nuclear weapons. Without testing there can’t be new types of weapons developed. The symposium is critical of the Home Office in the literature it has put out with regards a potential nuclear attack as it uses only the lowest possible figures for casualties. They are also critical of civil defence organisations for under estimation of the effects of radiation. The conference ends with Professor Smith stating that until ordinary people are properly informed no true democracy exists. Title: The symposium ‘MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY AND NUCLEAR WAR’ was organised by the TYNESIDE CAMPAGN AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS’ and held in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 26th March 1983 Title: Speakers: Professor Frank Farmer, Emeritus Professor of Medical Physics, University of Newcastle. Dr Andy Haines Senior Lecturer in General Practice London. Mr Jonathan Marrow, Consultant in Accident and Emergency, Arrow Park Hospital, Merseyside Title: Dr Gordon Pledger, District Medical Officer, Northumberland Health Authority. Professor San Shuster, Professor of Dermatology, University of Newcastle. Professor Alwyn Smith, Professor of Epidemiology, Manchester. Dr Gail Young, General Practitioner, North Tyneside Title: With thanks to Amber Films, Colin Cuthbert, Graham Denman, Imperial War Museum, Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, Side Gallery Credit: Video tape production and direction Sarah McCarthy, Wendy McEvoy, Claudine Zardi Title: Made with the financial assistance of Northern Arts, Rowntree Trust, Tyne & Wear County Council, Tyneside Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons Title: This tape is available from: M.C.A.N.W. 23 Stratford Grove, Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 5AT End credit: © Sarah McCarthy, Wendy McEvoy, Claudine Zardi 1983