AoMRC statement urges employers to facilitate global health volunteering

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) last week published a joint statement with the aim of breaking down barriers to global health volunteering. The RCN contributed as a member of the AoMRC International Forum. The statement outlines the six key challenges (below) faced by health professionals who set out to volunteer and how they may be dealt with, urging those who play a role in facilitating health volunteering to work to overcome the challenges:

• granting of time out from training and/or employment for volunteers 
• formal recognition of volunteering for professional development
• a fragmented environment for volunteering activities
• monitoring, evaluation and research of volunteering activities 
• information, training and support for volunteers 
• additional expenditures and the loss of employment entitlements for volunteers. 

The statement also highlights how experience gained volunteering can be beneficial to the NHS. Chief Executive of NHS Employers Dean Royles commented that “Volunteers can get significant benefits from working abroad, enhancing their skills and knowledge and experience”. The Department for Health and the Department for International Development also welcomed the statement, which can be read in full on the AoMRC website (PDF 164kb) [How to access PDF files].