The Improving Global Health Programme - leadership development in the NHS through overseas placement

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Leadership Development
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The Improving Global Health (IGH) programme uniquely develops leadership capacity within the National Health Service (NHS).
• It facilitates collaborative quality improvement projects between NHS employees and partner organizations in low- and middle-income countries.
• Long-standing healthcare partnerships underpin the program's reciprocal approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose solutions for designing reciprocal global health programs.
• To address strategies for attracting women and minority ethnic groups into leadership roles within global health initiatives.
• To evaluate the outcomes and impact of the IGH programme from both UK and partner perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative quality improvement projects in low- and middle-income countries.
• Theoretical and experiential learning, including induction and mentorship for leadership development.
• Surveys of returned IGH participants and reflections from international partners.

Main Results:

• The IGH programme enhances leadership, global health, and quality improvement skills among participants.
• Participants report significant and lasting positive impacts on their career trajectories.
• The programme successfully attracts women and black and minority ethnic groups into leadership positions.
• Overseas partners experience improvements in local healthcare systems and team member growth.

Conclusions:

• The IGH programme cultivates a diverse and inclusive cadre of NHS leaders through collaboration and reciprocity.
• Mutual learning and growth are fostered within both UK and overseas partner organizations.
• Long-standing partnerships are crucial for ensuring shared learning and mutual development in global health initiatives.