Northumbria University, Newcastle, hosted a delegation of leading medical doctors from China as part of a programme to learn more about medical education in the UK.
The delegation from Shandong Province spent seven-days with Northumbria Health and Life Science staff at the University’s Coach Lane campus to gain oversight of the profile structure and function of health care services in the UK.
The group was made up of 18 senior practitioners from hospitals across Shandong Province, situated in East China.
The seven-day programme was delivered in partnership with Health Education England North East (HEENE) the aim of which was to explore current policy drivers and influences on medical and health education in the UK. It was also to increase their understanding of a range of quality measures and supervision in the NHS training system including the role of the General Medical Council.
Speakers during the week included Professor Namita Kumar, Postgraduate Dean at HEENE and Consultant Rheumatologist in County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Kumar was joined by Dr Christopher Tiplady, Regional Clinical Advisor for Education in HEENE and Director of Education and Haematologist in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as hearing from a number of HEENE medical experts, the delegation was also shown around the University’s ground breaking Clinical Skills Centre Alan Platt, Associate Professor in Healthcare at Northumbria University; where students can develop practical skills and gain valuable experience of real hospital situations in simulated situations.
Welcoming the delegation was Northumbria University’s Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategic Planning and Engagement, Health & Life Sciences, Professor Greta Defeyter.
She said: “At Northumbria University we are really eager to extend our reach internationally, both in terms of our continuing professional development and our collaborative and contract research.
“The visit from Shandong Province gave us an excellent opportunity to invite colleagues and delegates over to experience what we have on offer here at Northumbria University.
“This programme was exceptional in the sense that we partnered on the delivery of this seven-day visit with HEENE which enabled us to offer a more enriched series of events.”
Dr Tiplady, who gave a lecture on standardised training in Great Britain, added: “I’ve had really good feedback both from people who have been speaking to the delegation and from the delegation themselves. Certainly our speakers have enjoyed every single minute. The delegates have learnt a lot about postgraduate medical education; the structures, the people, the processes and a lot of the rules we have around education in this region.
“I’m passionate about what we’re doing with our international relationships. I see it as a two-fold relationship; we learn from them and I hope they learn a little bit from us.”
Medical experts from the region who spoke to the delegation during their seven-day visit were Dr Jayne Chambers, Programme Director for Primary Care in HEENE, Dr Richard Bellamy Director of Post Graduate Training, HEENE, Dr Mark Gregory, Clinical Leadership Fellow in HEENE, Dr Beatrice Downie , Clinical Leadership Fellow in HEENE, Dr Moranda Ellis, Clinical Leadership Fellow in HEENE, Ms Alyson Williamson, Senior Education Support Manager, HEENE, Dr Iain W Lawther, Head of Continuing Practice, Postgraduate School of Primary Care Postgraduate GP Tutor, Postgraduate GP Trainer, RCGP North East Faculty Education Lead, Dr Neil Halford, Director of Medical Trainee Revalidation, HEENE and Consultant Emergency Care Gateshead.
After the visit, the 18 delegates were extremely positive and indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the programme. There was strong support for the content and structure of the programme and it was clear from participants’ comments that the aims and objectives of the programme were met.
Northumbria has strong partnerships with local NHS Trusts, GP practices and private and voluntary providers to enable all students to experience a wide range of placements. Northumbria is in the top quartile in the UK for its research power in Allied Health Professions and Nursing. More than 80% of research activity in this area is rated as world leading or internationally excellent.
