The Improving Global Health Programme - leadership development in the NHS through overseas placement

The Improving Global Health (IGH) programme develops leadership capacity within the National Health Service (NHS) in a novel way. NHS employees collaboratively run quality improvement projects within organisations in low-income and middle-income countries with whom long-standing healthcare partnerships have been built. Leadership behaviours are developed through theoretical and experiential learning, alongside induction and mentorship. The health systems of overseas partners are strengthened through projects that align with local priorities. This article develops solutions to two main problems: how reciprocal global health programmes can be designed and how global health programmes based in leadership can attract women and black and minority ethnic groups into leadership. The outcomes of both sides of the IGH programme are described here. The overseas perspective is described using the reflections of two current partners, highlighting improvements in the local healthcare system and demonstrating growth in local team members. The UK perspective is evaluated using two surveys sent to different groups of returned IGH participants. Leadership, global health and quality improvement skills improve, having a significant and long-lasting impact on career trajectory. The IGH programme is attracting women and black and minority ethnic groups into leadership. Through collaboration and reciprocity, the IGH programme is developing a new cadre of NHS leader that is diverse and inclusive. The use of long-standing healthcare partnerships ensures that learning is shared and growth is mutual, creating development within the overseas and UK partner alike.