Evaluating the contribution of NHS South Central's ;Improving Global Health through Leadership Development; scheme towards improved health and healthcare in Cambodia

In 2008 NHS South Central launched a new initiative entitled ‘Improving Global Health through Leadership Development’, aiming to provide both leadership development for NHS staff, and improve health in developing countries. The first partnership of the scheme was formed with the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation In Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the worldwith a human development index rank of 124 out of 169 countries. Since September 2008 over 30 health professionals (termed ‘fellows’) have had placements of between 2 and 8 months working with MJPs health team, focussing on capacity building, with an emphasis on applying quality improvement methodology to improve services at two rural health facilities supported by MJP.The NHS is attempting to embed the following 6 principles into its workstreams:The implementation of higher standards of clinical care with improved systems and processes Appropriate service delivery and improved access to care – getting the right skills, equipment and people in the right place and encouraging patients to use them The transference of technical, clinical and problem solving skills to MJP staff and other stakeholders. The development of a culture of continuing professional development (CPD)Supervision and support for Cambodian health workers Data collection for the assessment of outcomes, knowledge and skills from the current baseline position The scheme is registered as a ‘health link’ with the Tropical Health & Education Trust (THET). It defines health links as “long-term partnerships between UK health institutions and their counterparts in developing countries”. In recent years the number of health links has expanded and it is estimated that there are currently more than 120 formal partnerships in the UK.