Teesside health staff volunteer to improve healthcare in Cambodia

Healthcare staff from Teesside have made the trip to Battambang in Cambodia to support local hospitals and doctors in improving healthcare in the country.

Cheryle Buckle, a 40-year-old senior wheelchair therapist at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, and Greta Rocchino, a 28-year-old urology nurse from South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, spent 10 days in the country with charity Transform Healthcare Cambodia.

Cheryle, Greta and the rest of the team – comprising of Transform Healthcare Cambodia directors and a doctor and nurse practitioner from Leeds – volunteered their time to provide education and training to Khmer healthcare staff at Battambang Provincial Referral Hospital and Roka Community Hospital.

Greta spent much of her time training local healthcare staff in hand hygiene and in preventing and monitoring sepsis. Cheryle taught therapy staff moving and handling skills to transfer patients safely.

A memorable and amazing experience

Cheryle said: “This has been one of the most memorable and amazing experiences of my life. The Cambodians have a lot to learn and develop in their mission of service improvement and great healthcare. But I think we also have a lot we can learn from the Cambodian people.

“The dedication, commitment and determination from the health professionals to do their best is beautiful. This trip has been both a personal and professional journey where I have learnt so much which will allow me to be a better practitioner for all I serve.”

Greta continued: “One reflection for me, brutally and honestly, is how much the NHS gets taken for granted. The Cambodian hospitals generally have less resources than the UK, however the staff are equally as capable.

“There is definitely space for improvement in the Cambodian healthcare system. But what also struck me was how grateful everyone was for the care that they received.

“I would absolutely love to go back. I would have a wider range of understanding for next time so hopefully I can accommodate another trip.”

Special moments

During the trip, Cheryle met with a young boy who is a wheelchair user as a result of a farming accident. She assessed his upper limb function and taught him how to safely transfer in and out of his chair independently using a transfer board.

She and the team then visited a local carpenter to make three copies of the transfer board. A board was made for the boy and two for local hospitals to be used as prototypes.

Cheryle said: “Watching that little boy give it a shot and nail it first go felt like silent fireworks were going off everywhere as our hearts burst from the excitement and joy from him and his mum. We provided an opportunity for independence for this lovely little boy.

“I have so many moments that have been rewarding and emotive but this one was really special.”

Greta taught lectures on sepsis management and observation as well as interactive hand hygiene sessions. She is now completing a month’s medical internship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the Friends for Asia Foundation.

She said: “A standout moment for me was finishing my sepsis lecture in Battambang hospital. All the staff were so excited to receive a certificate and to take a picture with me. Each member of staff individually wanted a photo, which was a definitely a workout for my facial muscles!

“I really want to utilise my time in South East Asia and I thought it would be amazing to have an additional peek into the Thai healthcare system as well. I’m interested in nurse practitioner roles in the UK so a medical internship would be the perfect thing for me.”

During the trip, Cheryle, Greta and the team also supported training in dental hygiene, wound dressing and mental health. They also gifted items, including eyeglasses donated by staff at North Tees and Hartlepool and toothbrushes for local children.