Global Citizenship
in the
Scottish Health Service:The value of
international volunteering
20/02/2017
Stuart FergussonMike McKirdy
Our task
International volunteering…
1. Definition
2. Current activity in Scotland
3. Benefits and challenges
4. How to improve Scotland’s current approach
Methodology – (i)
• Published academic literature
• Review of key policy and reports
Methodology – (ii)
• THET mapping survey
• Personal testimonies
• Stakeholder engagement
–All territorial and special Health Boards
– SG policy teams
–Royal Colleges, professional organisations & trade unions
– Larger charities with known medical work
–Request for opinions via SMP, NIDOS, social media
– Subject experts
Individual benefits from
international volunteering
• Leadership and Management skills
• Communication and teamwork
• Clinical skills
• Policy awareness and experience
• Academic skills
• Patient experience and dignity
• Personal satisfaction and interest
NHS benefits from
international volunteering
• Recruitment and retention
• System learning and capacity building
• Professional development of the workforce
• Improved Scottish patient experience
• Reputational development
Challenges to individuals
& organisations
• Service delivery
• Financial costs
• Personal health and security
• Opportunity costs
• Reputational risk
Potential areas for action
1. Thinking strategically
2. Professionalising coordination and support
3. Maximising benefit
4. Maintaining standards
5. Valuing collaboration
6. Expressing local commitment
7. Defining support mechanisms
8. Setting expectations
Report launch:• Wednesday 17th May
“Towards Global Citizenship”Friday 15th September 2017RCPSG
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS?
Volunteering -
approaches
• coordinated – uncoordinated
• short-term – long-term
• grant funded – self funded
• capacity-building – gap filling
• ‘lunch-break’ volunteering – in-country volunteering
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. Improving Health at Home and Abroad: how overseas volunteering from the NHS benefits the UK and the world. 2013.
Volunteering - definition
“The giving of time and energy through a third party, which can bring measurable benefits to the volunteer, individual beneficiaries, groups and organisations, communities, the environment and society at large. It is a choice undertaken of one’s own free will, and is not motivated primarily for financial gain or for a wage or salary.”
Scottish Executive. Volunteering Strategy. 2004.
Volunteering –
extent in the NHS?
• Cross-sectional survey: 911 NHS staff in NW England
“Have you had any periods in another country, either as an employee or volunteer?”
Chatwin J, Ackers L. Volunteering and overseas placements in the NHS: a survey of current activity. BMJ Open. 2016 Jan 10;6(10):e012160.
42%58%
International experience?
YesNo 58%22%
20%
Location of experience?
LICMICHIC
