news focus

Published: 25/09/2003, Volume II3, No. 5874 Page 14 15

Rolling out Scottish Executive white paper Partnership for Care was always going to be a challenge.But as a member of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Lynda Sawers opted to swap her day job for a spot of active service in Iraq with the Public Relations Squadron. Jennifer Trueland reports

It is a tough call, but which would you choose? Finding ways to sell the latest health white paper to the NHS? Or sweltering in the harsh Iraq sun, dealing with journalists from across the world on behalf of the coalition troops in Basra?

That was the dilemma facing Lynda Sawers, corporate communications manager with the Scottish Executive.

But in the event, she had no difficulty in making the decision. As a part-time senior officer in the Royal Auxiliary Airforce, Squadron Leader Sawers has spent the last two months on her first operational tour of duty as a member of the 764 (VR) Public Relations Squadron.

Her time before leaving for Iraq was far from easy, with the publication of white paper Partnership for Care and the finishing touches to be put to the intranet site designed to improve links between the Executive and those working in the NHS in Scotland.

But for many people, the relative safety of dealing with communicating about the health service would be preferable to the far more physical threats in Iraq.

Indeed, Ms Sawers received her call-up papers in June, just as it emerged that six military policemen had been killed in Iraq. But she had no hesitation in going.

'I knew I might have to. Some of my colleagues in the Public Relations Squadron had been there before and during the war and we always knew it would not just be a war and then It is over, ' she says.

'I had been disappointed not to be called up before. It was very hard to be at home knowing that people I knew very well were over there.'

But wasn't she nervous? 'I wasn't scared at all. I took a deep breath and thought 'this is it'. I was quite prepared in my head. I was being given the chance to do a job I would been trained to do - to come out and make a contribution, doing a job for the Iraqis.'

Her role is director of the press information centre in Basra in southern Iraq, working with a team of 10 on behalf of the coalition forces. The aim is to get good news stories out on the work that is going on there. For example, 'quick impact' schemes to rebuild and re-equip health centres and schools.

The unit has its own photographer and video camera and has covered issues as diverse as preventing smuggling to and from neighbouring Kuwait and clearing mortars out of public buildings.

So is it easier to persuade newspapers to publish 'good news' stories on Iraq than on the NHS? 'At first it was difficult, ' says Ms Sawers, who, as a former public relations manager at a community health trust had her share of fighting for coverage on issues like mental health. 'Once the war had ended, lots of journalists left Iraq.

And, as is the case with the NHS, when you're trying to feed 'good news' stories, the headlines are going to be small.

'We had more success with Arabic media because they were interested in what was going on in their communities, but most of the international journalists stayed in Baghdad. After all, they thought Saddam Hussein might be killed at any minute.'

The death of a British soldier was the unfortunate catalyst that persuaded the press to cover Basra. 'The media began to descend and found other stories to cover while they were here.

We have been working with media from all the countries who have coalition soldiers here, including Norway and the Czech Republic.

I've done interviews with everyone from Radio Clyde to The New York Times.'

Among the best news stories to emerge was a baby saved by coalition troops during an arms raid on a house. 'They were looking through an ammunitions box and, to their surprise, found a baby, who wasn't breathing, and who was resuscitated by an 18year-old soldier.'

If that was a highlight, then the worst aspect of the tour has definitely been the deaths of coalition troops in Basra.

The news inevitably had an impact on all of those serving in Basra.And it threw their own vulnerability into relief. It also made it clear that this is not a military exercise. It is real.

'The security situation means you have to be aware. I've been trained to use a weapon and I have to be prepared to use it. That idea did pull me up short.'

But has she felt under threat?

After all, she, like anyone else connected to the coalition troops, walks and drives down the same streets where colleagues have come under fire or been killed.

'There is always an element of risk, ' she says. 'You're very aware that there are a minority of people who want to do coalition forces harm. Obviously we take sensible precautions and are aware of the risks.

But we want to get out and about and speak to people - find out what the communities want, what they are feeling, what makes them tick.You can't do that sitting behind a desk.

'I do not feel brave. There are people doing far more dangerous things and more significant things and I take my hat off to them. I just feel privileged to be here and to be playing a small part in something so important.'