The UK-KSA collaboration on healthcare is a common approach to quality assurance and competency-based training, says Ian Wheeler, Senior Lead Technical Collaboration and Consultancy at HEE
As the global pandemic has brought healthcare workforce issues to the fore, it has reinforced the need for cooperation across the world. Sharing of knowledge and training has long been a goal within the UK National Health Service (NHS), and through Health Education England (HEE) it is working with key partners to aid in upskilling clinical staff.
As the strategic workforce planning and education and training body of the NHS, HEE is responsible for supporting the NHS workforce through the development and commissioning of education and training programmes. By supporting the system in such a way, it ensures the NHS has the right numbers of staff, with the right skills, in the right place.
This expertise can also be applied overseas, and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) HEE has been working with key stakeholders to develop a common approach towards quality and competence based training and assessment.
HEE are currently supporting KSA achieve its Vision 2030 goals with respect to health in two areas: the development of nursing support roles and training Saudi doctors in the UK via the International Post Graduate Medical Training Scheme (IPGMTS).
Nursing roles
An effective nursing workforce is critical to the delivery of cost-effective and high-quality care. The Health Academy in Saudi Arabia completed an independent evaluation to identify tasks carried out by Registered Nurses which could be carried out by other healthcare workers. They then developed a project to consider the development of new roles to allow Registered Nurses to focus on core nursing tasks and responsibilities.
The initial review suggested a potential of 39 new roles with the aim of creating a compassionate, competent, and confident qualified workforce. At this point, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) approached HEE to help review the potential options as a key part of their international benchmarking process.
“I’m delighted to be able to work with professional colleagues in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the nursing agenda,” says Liz Fenton, HEE’s Deputy Chief Nurse. “This is a fantastic opportunity to share and learn from each other and promote the critical work of nurses in England and KSA.”
HEE will use their strategic workforce skills to benchmark against several roles that the SCFHS have identified as being of critical importance. Furthermore, HEE will act as a critical friend through the quality assurance of international benchmarks of other key roles. Based on this, HEE’s internationally respected nursing team will undertake an evaluation of the proposed new roles project as situated in the nursing transformation agenda of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
HEE will work closely with SCFHS colleagues to contribute a forum being planned in the Kingdom in early 2022. Here HEE and SCFHS will build on the partnership outlined above and showcase the power of UK-KSA collaboration.
International Post Graduate Medical Training Scheme
The NHS is internationally renowned for the quality of its medical education and training. The International Postgraduate Medical Training Scheme (IPGMTS) enables overseas doctors, by arrangement with international governments, to undertake full specialty training to UK standards. The scheme takes doctors from entry to the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) and recognition in the GMC specialty register in England before returning home to practice as consultants in their chosen field.
Training for doctors is founded on proven systems for driving high quality and standards and delivered in cutting-edge training facilities of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the wider West Midlands. The first Saudi doctors arrived in the UK in 2020 and are training in specialties from Obstetrics & Gynaecology to Renal Medicine to Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery.
A current IPGMTS trainee listed the benefits of training in the UK as including ongoing educational activities held despite the difficulties posed by the COVID pandemic and a well-organised training scheme tailored to every registrar’s interest. She reflected that she was made to feel welcome and able to express her thoughts to both fellow junior doctors and consultants. She is confident that going back to Saudi Arabia as a CCT qualified physician will create a positive impact.
The unique selling point of IPGMTS is that doctors on IPGMTS receive exactly the same training experience as UK funded trainees. They have access to the relevant Royal College curriculum and exams and recognition from the General Medical Council, resulting in being added to the specialist register on successful completion of the programme. This means the calibre of IPGMTS doctors’ qualifications are recognised worldwide.
Health Education England’s offer to Arab Health
The NHS offer on strategic workforce planning, workforce transformation and the human resources for health agenda are its unique selling points. HEE’s global offer helps deliver on the organisation’s commitment to the UK’s global health system strengthening priorities and does so through collaboration and partnership.
IPGMTS currently operates in Kuwait as well as in KSA and HEE are beginning to see the outcomes of partnership development efforts in Saudi Arabia and the wider region. HEE are keen to explore partnerships to jointly overcome health workforce challenges and build on successful relationships in Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.