Funding For NHS Humanitarian Projects Doubled, England

The amount of money available to English NHS teams carrying out humanitarian work overseas is to double to ?40,000 next year, the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and Department of Health announce (Friday 9 December, 2005).


Next year, the Humanitarian Fund, which receives ?20,000 from the Department of Health in England, will be supplemented by ?15,000 from the BMA and ?5,000 from the RCN.


Since December 2004, 15 NHS projects have been awarded grants from the fund, which is administered by the BMA's International Department. They include:


London Ambulance Service NHS Trust - a team of 20 staff travelled to Pui in Romania and within six days refurbished two classrooms and installed indoor toilets for the local school.


Sheffield - a team, mainly from Sheffield Health and Social Research Consortium, is assisting the education of health officers in Tigray in Ethiopia to help them reduce maternal mortality.


Bradford Teaching NHS Trust - multidisciplinary teams are training healthcare staff in Bangladesh to perform new micro-surgery techniques on children and adults with hearing problems.


Royal Free Hospital, London - a research nurse from the Marie Curie Palliative Unit will help mothers to improve the nutrition of children under the age of two in the Mae Lae camp on the border between Thailand and Burma.


Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust - working with a team of Iranian doctors to set up a trauma training system.


Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust - helping train doctors and nurses in India.


Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust - working to help Malawian healthcare staff tackle physical disability in children, including cerebral palsy.


The deadline for submitting applications for grants next year is 10 February 2006.


Commenting on the fund, Dr Edwin Borman, chair of the BMA's International Committee, said: "NHS teams achieved an incredible amount last year, and with twice as much money available, they'll be able to do even more. It's not a one-way process - the doctors and nurses who return from these projects gain skills that they bring back to their work for the NHS."


Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "The Humanitarian Fund gives nurses and other health professionals a chance to help improve the health of communities in developing countries. Getting involved with these kinds of humanitarian projects can also broaden and develop staff skills - with great benefit to the NHS. We hope that nurses take this opportunity to apply for funding and make a real difference to developing communities."


Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief Executive to the NHS said: "Many NHS staff actively contribute to international development programmes and respond to international emergencies. I am pleased that this fund, now in its third year, is able to offer additional support to these staff. I do believe that, as well as offering support to communities in developing countries, this fund acts as a stimulus for professional development and growth. This has to be of benefit to the NHS on their return."


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