New report finds 74% of diaspora NHS staff attribute positive care practices to overseas experience.

A new report titled, The Voices of the Experts in Our Midst, launched today at the Senedd by the Tropical Health & Education Trust (THET) celebrates diaspora healthcare workers who connect the NHS to 214 health systems around the world.

The report which focusses on the experience of diaspora healthcare workers in Wales is published as part of THET’s Experts in Our Midst programme, which aims to harness the knowledge diaspora staff have of other health systems to develop practical solutions that improve health service delivery in the UK and overseas.

The launch of the Wales report in the Senedd today follows the launch of England report in the Houses of Parliament in December.

THET Chief Executive Officer, Ben Simms, said: “Diaspora health workers are diplomats who move with ease between health systems, learning as they go. We must listen to their voices as we seek to improve health for everyone, everywhere – the centrepiece of THET’s mission as a UK charity working internationally.

“It is our belief that Wales, and the UK, does not do enough to celebrate this knowledge or acknowledge how much we gain from the presence of the Experts in Our Midst. We must also realise the responsibility this places on us as a country to support the work of building health systems in countries of heritage, which is why THET encourages Assembly Members to urge the UK Government to return to committing 0.7% of GNI on Official Development Assistance.”

Between January to October 2023, THET surveyed 685 diaspora healthcare workers from 70 countries of heritage, 41% of which currently work in Wales with the remaining 59% from England, with responses overwhelmingly highlighting the benefits of overseas training and practice. 74% of responses identified positive practices of diaspora staff within the NHS attributable to overseas experience, while 35% of diaspora staff surveyed say they are involved in improving health in their countries of heritage.

THET also conducted a series of focus groups in September and October 2023, which give a more nuanced understanding of the diaspora health worker experience. Here, diaspora health workers often reported that they felt disregarded and undervalued, often languishing in lower-level jobs, despite their extensive experience or finding career progression difficult. Of those who reported negative experiences of working in the NHS, a concerning 61.5% believe they are unrecognised or underutilised.

The new report also finds many positive experiences of diaspora health workers within the NHS. Respondents referenced opportunities for professional development, a positive working environment, access to world-class training, and an improvement over time toward better onboarding and adaptation to the UK health sector for new diaspora entrants.

Importantly, the report underscores the significant contribution diaspora health workers make to improving global health. The results illustrated in the new report highlight the extent of bi-directional benefits of diaspora-led global health initiatives, including research partnerships, exchange programmes, and bi-directional practice based and technological innovations.

THET’s vision is a world where everyone has access to quality healthcare, and the NGO hopes that the new report will support the ambitions of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan and contribute to the long-term aspirational role of Wales in deploying ethical international recruitment strategies for high quality Universal Health Coverage.

Mr Simms added: “THET is deeply excited by diaspora health workers as individuals, and by the ways in which they are using their knowledge of different health systems to improve health for patients in Wales and in their countries of heritage.

“We shall look forward to engaging with colleagues across the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and the independent healthcare sector to ensure inclusion and race equality is central to leadership and decision-making in the Welsh health sector. Together, we can ensure the Welsh health system is fit for the future, benefitting fully from the wealth of knowledge and expertise in our diverse healthcare workforce.”