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2. The opportunities
You may be thinking of spending your working life overseas or simply going for a short time. In terms of providing a culturally appropriate service and relevant capacity building, you will accomplish far more by going longer term. It takes time to understand a different culture, adapt to it, learn the language and develop an appropriate and relevant approach to healthcare needs.
However, it doesn't have to involve a life time commitment to living abroad. Short term assignments with repeated visits to the same place are the pattern for many these days. A great deal can be achieved by those who stay in the UK and develop long term links with overseas colleagues, responding to local requests for help, establishing good relationships and encouraging two way visits that provide skills training etc. Such links have been developed by THET (The Tropical Health Education Trust - www.thet.org). The Government backed NHS Links are building on their foundation.
Have you ever thought that YOU could:
- Join a CMF Summer Team for 2 weeks, encouraging Christian medical students in Eastern Europe
- (As an SpR) apply for a VSO/Royal College Fellowship and do 12-24 months training overseas, one year of which may be counted towards CCST, if retrospectively accredited
- (As a GP) join the Flexible Careers Scheme, working part time in the NHS and using the time released to make regular trips overseas to encourage others and share their skills and experience.
- Provide locum cover for a healthcare professional working overseas who needs a break
- Provide regular skills training courses overseas
- Join a team providing specialist surgical skills e.g. Eye & Ear Camps, Gynae. & Fistula Repair
- Join PRIME (and www.prime-international.org.uk/) become a trainer of trainers in holistic primary healthcare overseas
- Use a sabbatical to get involved in an overseas project e.g. Mercy Ships
- Take early retirement and get more fully involved overseas. Attend one of CMFs Conferences for retirees or read 'Re-tyred – not retired', published by CMF which contains articles by retirees who are actively involved in projects overseas.
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Contents
Previous Article (1.4 Cultural and social concerns)
Next Article (2.1 What sort of skills are needed?)
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Chris Lavy, Eldryd Parry, Ian Spillman and Nick Wooding, all of whom have worked overseas and have a continuing involvement, for their helpful comments and advice.
First edition 1994 - Entitled ‘A Medical Missions Handbook’ by Peter Saunders.
Second Edition 1998 (updated April 2000)
Third Edition September 2003 - by Peter Armon
Fourth Edition 2007 – renamed ‘Working Abroad’ - totally revised & rewritten by Peter Armon
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the CMF.
Christian Medical Fellowship
6 Marshalsea Road
London SE1 1HL
Tel. 020 7234 9660
Fax 020 7234 9661
Websites:www.cmf.org.uk and www.healthserve.org
Christian Medical Fellowship is a registered charity No. 1039823
DISCLAIMER
While seeking to be accurate in all the details contained in this document, CMF cannot be held responsible for the information contained in this booklet. The reader should double check the information for him/herself
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