How UK-trained nurse volunteers working overseas can reduce healthcare inequalities.

Universal health coverage is an ambitious goal central to the eradication of poverty in low and middle-income countries. However, the number of qualified staff working in developing countries is not sufficient to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, and professional development opportunities for nurses are rare or non-existent. This article explores how UK-trained nurses can support the training of colleagues working in regions where resources are limited, and provides examples of current voluntary projects in old age care taking place in Sri Lanka and Nepal. It discusses the contribution that nurses can make to the reduction of healthcare inequalities worldwide and reflects on the benefits that such experiences can have on nursing practice in the UK.

Sharing skills in dementia care with staff overseas.

More than 35 million people worldwide are living with dementia. In some countries the existence of a health and social welfare state offers a level of support to those affected, but in many others resources are limited and inadequate, with responsibility for care lying primarily with relatives and friends. Significant efforts are being made by low and middle income nations to respond to the health needs of patients and carers, yet insufficient numbers of professionals and lack of specialist training opportunities are barriers that are difficult to overcome. Based on the author's volunteering experience in Sri Lanka, this article explores the role of UK trained nurses in supporting the development of dementia care services in countries where resources are limited. It discusses the contribution that nurses can make to the creation of services and reflects on the benefits that such exchanges can have on nursing practice in the UK.