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Chapter 5 - Benefits of Global Volunteering to the United Kingdom

from Section 1 - Key Principles, Theory and Concepts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2023

By
Peter Hughes
Edited by
Sophie Thomson ,
Peter Hughes  and
Sam Gnanapragasam
Sophie Thomson
Affiliation:
World Psychiatric Association
Peter Hughes
Affiliation:
Springfield University Hospital, London
Sam Gnanapragasam
Affiliation:
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
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Summary

The UK has benefited hugely from health workers around the world coming to work in the National Health Service (NHS) and care services. This started in the colonial era and has been continuing since then due to a mixture of push and pull factors. Looking at hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes, it is noticeable that staff come from all over the world. In fact, what is one of the biggest ethical dilemmas is the ‘brain drain’ of doctors and nurses from where they are needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to the UK[3]. Given this unequitable movement of the health workforce, there is a moral obligation on the UK health system to support LMICs. Global volunteering helps somewhat in redressing the balance, although it should be seen as one small component and not a replacement for systemic workforce shortages.

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Type
Chapter
Information
Volunteering in Global Mental Health
A Practical Guide for Clinicians
 , pp. 39 - 46
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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