Towards Global Citizenship

15 Sep 2017

Senior health sector leaders from across the globe are gathering at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow today (Friday 15 September) to explore the benefits and challenges of international volunteering by NHS staff in Scotland. 

The conference, Towards Global Citizenship, follows the publication earlier this year of a policy report by the College, supported by the Scottish Global Health Collaborative on “Global Citizenship in the Scottish Health Service” and how this voluntary work can be more effectively supported in the Scottish health service. 

Speaking at the conference, Mike McKirdy, the College’s Director of Global Health and co-author of the report, said:

“The College is delighted to welcome experts from across the globe to Glasgow to discuss this important and topical issue. 

“We know offering volunteering opportunities abroad benefits some of the world’s poorest countries. At the same time it also extends the professional development of our NHS workforce. This in turn helps recruit and keep NHS staff in Scotland. 

“Everyone involved benefits, and so we want to work with government, the health service and others to realise the full potential of global citizenship.

“That’s why this conference is so important in finding ways we can get the best from this opportunity.”

The conference key note speaker is Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health, and former Chief Executive of the NHS in England. 

Other speakers include:

• Professor Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, NHS Scotland
• Professor Evarist Njelesani, founding President, East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians

Category: Workforce