Visiting three hospitals in Zambia’s capital Lusaka the team from Newcastle will carry out basic skills endoscopy courses as well as a ‘train the trainer course’, helping doctors and nurses in Zambia to set up their own training programmes.
The team from Newcastle are made up of:
- Abelyn Datlag, initially an endoscopy nurse at the RVI, and currently a nurse endoscopist performing procedures at both the RVI and Freeman endoscopy units;
- Paul Watson, a registered nurse from the Freeman Hospital’s endoscopy unit; and
- Dr David Nylander, consultant gastroenterologist who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2021 in recognition of his development of health services in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.
Dr Nylander has been a consultant gastroenterologist for nearly 25 years and is passionate about training others in the field of endoscopy. He is a member of the National Faculty of Endoscopy Trainers tutoring doctors and nurses in endoscopy in Newcastle, Teesside, Liverpool and Shropshire.
“I was born and spent the first 18 years of my life in Sierra Leone” he explained.
“Endoscopy services did not exist there so in 2015 when awarded a grant from the British Society of Gastroenterology to perform training in any aspect of gastroenterology in a ‘resource poor country’ the choice was easy.
“We set up a partnership between the Newcastle Hospitals and Choithram Memorial Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone where I led a team of endoscopy trainers to train staff and develop a service there.
“We returned the following year with nursing colleagues including Abby who has been integral to setting up nursing procedures. We also trained the doctors on how to carry out therapeutic endoscopies – treating patients through endoscopy and not just diagnosing problems.”
Since the first visit in 2016 doctors in Sierra Leone have carried out over 1500 endoscopic procedures for local patients.
Sharing expertise oversease
Dr Nylander has led on a number of training visits across Africa. In 2022 he led a team of gastroenterologists, chest physicians and nurses to the Medical Research Council Unit in Gambia where they set up a joint endoscopy and bronchoscopy unit, continuing to support its development remotely.
Dr Nylander says this aspect has given staff involved the opportunity to learn more about supporting healthcare in a remote environment and the many challenges this can bring about.
Then in 2023 together with two other colleagues he performed a ‘train the trainer’ course for 15 trainers in Egypt’s capital Cairo.
Dr Nylander added “This experience is what led to our team being invited by like-minded colleagues from the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to join them supporting a ‘train the trainer course’ and basic skills endoscopy course in Lusaka.”
This joint venture to Zambia is part of the British Society of Gastroenterology’s international committee mission to support medical centres across the world as they strive to achieve the best outcomes for patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases, by co-ordinating visits from UK specialists in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Sharing nursing expertise
After graduating and starting her nursing career in 1999 Abby was introduced to the world of endoscopy at Changi General Hospital in Singapore in 2002.
She then joined the endoscopy team in Newcastle two years later which she describes as ‘a privilege’ giving her the best experience in her nursing career. Abby is now a nurse practitioner endoscopist and a clinical nurse specialist managing the iron deficiency anaemia nurse led clinic. In the latter role she triages all GP and hospital patient referrals.
She explains “I see patients in clinic, request investigations and carry out endoscopies and gastroscopies. These specialised endoscopic examinations are where a small scope is passed through the mouth, down the food pipe (oesophagus) into the stomach and down to the first part of the small intestines to help diagnose conditions.
Abby is currently in the middle of her colonoscopy training and very much looks forward to celebrating her 20th anniversary working here later this year.
Of taking part in these international missions Abby says “I have a high respect for the team of medics who do medical missions in the Philippines, and this inspires me to do the same.
“Joining the group to impart my knowledge and experience in endoscopy is a fulfilment of my dream. This will be my fifth trip to Africa, and I am looking forward to it.”
Many of our staff have greatly benefitted from their international volunteering experiences which have boosted their leadership and other skills.
First voluntary visit
The newest member of Newcastle’s team is Paul Watson who has worked at the Freeman Hospital’s endoscopy unit for over 17 years. He says he feels hugely honoured to represent the trust and to be able to participate in this venture.
“When I was invited by Dr Dave Nylander to assist in teaching nurses focusing on the patient pathway through the endoscopy process in particular I jumped at the chance,” said Paul.
“Whilst the units we will be visiting are not as advanced as those in the UK, I hope to be able to pass on the depth of knowledge I have accrued over the years and am sure there will be many learning opportunities for me too, as there are always ways to improve.”
Paul’s nursing career began later than most as he started his training “at the ripe old age of 41”. This change in direction followed a range of jobs such as working for the Post Office, as a Marine Claims Executive dealing with international shipping claims and laterally as a business manager for an electronics company.
“As manufacturing plummeted I decided to enter the world of nursing pretty much because it felt like it was something I should do”, explained Paul.
“I was the first ever student placed at the Freeman Hospital’s Endoscopy Unit. When my training finished I applied for a job there and I’ve been here ever since.”
Paul continued “I love teaching, as I am sure anyone on the unit would tell you. I take great pride in passing down my knowledge of endoscopy in what is a very highly regarded and renowned department.
“The unit’s sisters give me the freedom to hold teaching and refresher sessions with our staff producing evidential certificates as proof for revalidation purposes. I’m really looking forward to taking what I have learnt here in Newcastle to a completely different part of the world and having the chance to share this with nursing colleagues in Zambia.”
