Friday 1 March marks Overseas NHS Workers Day, a day to recognises the extraordinary contribution that people who’ve moved or migrated to the UK make to our health service – as well as to healthcare globally. At CGHP we acknowledge the particular contribution overseas staff make to health partnerships between the UK and low- and middle-income countries. By participating in partnerships – often with their country of heritage – these staff bring unrivalled cultural understanding and awareness, as well as the unique skills and experience gained through their previous work and training overseas.
Clare Baaka is a clinical fellow in intensive care and has been working for just over a year in the John Farman ICU at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Originally from Uganda, Clare came here on the Medical Training Initiative (MTI) scheme and as part of the CGHP supported Uganda UK health partnership, to improve her clinical skills, widen her knowledge in intensive care and increase her work experience.
“Clinical and leadership skills that I gained in my country are most valuable to me in the UK, because working in the ICU involves practical skills in patient management, as well as leadership, especially during critical incidents such as managing a cardiac arrest session.”
“The clinical experience I’ve had in the NHS involving patient management, critical thinking, and appropriate decision-making will be helpful when I return home because we sometimes see the same types of patients and the approach to critical care patient management is similar.
Participating in global healthcare has had a big impact on Clare. “Personally, it has made me more resilient because I had to settle in a foreign land and learn the NHS way of doing different things. Professionally, I am now a better critical care clinician compared to when I first started thanks to the vast experience I am acquiring at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.”
So what would she say to other overseas NHS staff considering global healthcare work? “It is worth it because having such an experience changes your approach to doing things for the better.”
Interested in participating in global health but not sure where to begin? Find out about the support, advice and funding CGHP offers you or email us anytime time at info@cghp.org.uk.
To find out more about the significant contribution diaspora staff make to the NHS and global health, and the work of the Diaspora Network for Global Health, read THET’s policy report ‘Experts in our Midst‘.