The new partnership will see Jamaican nurses work in the NHS for 3 years to gain specialist skills and experience to take back to the Jamaican health system.
The partnership is an extension of the successful ‘earn, learn and return’ scheme, which has already seen Indian nurses benefit from NHS work experience.
Registered nurses from Jamaica will undertake work placements in the UK, facilitated by Health Education England, in areas such as emergency medicine and intensive care. They will go back to Jamaica to share their new skills, knowledge and experience with their own healthcare system.
In return, NHS staff will be given the opportunity to travel to Jamaica to share their expertise with the Jamaican health service and help them to improve their care.
The aim of the scheme is to support the Jamaican government in improving the capability and capacity of their nursing workforce, as well as establish a network of professionals from both countries who will continue to share learning and knowledge beyond the scheme itself.
Minister of State for Health Stephen Barclay said: The NHS is blazing a trail in healthcare across the world and it is a testament to the skills and expertise of our dedicated nurses that other countries are vying for their knowledge to help improve their own services.
I’m delighted that we’re partnering with Jamaica in this scheme, which will build on our existing collaboration with India, and further demonstrates the Government’s commitment to forging new international relationships in preparation for the UK to leave the European Union.
This will also form part of the NHS’s commitment to supporting its staff to develop and progress their careers. Offering global health placements within training programmes or as part of continuing professional development has shown to have a positive impact on recruitment and retention of staff.
All nurses who come to work for the NHS will be required to meet the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The UK government also recently announced a 25% increase in UK nursing degree training places.
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