Health experts moved by plight of hospital

FROM Grimsby to Macedonia ... our health experts may soon be helping people living in south eastern Europe.

Two managers from the NAViGO health and social care community interest company – the organisation which manages mental health services in North East Lincolnshire – have recently returned from a fact-finding trip to the Balkan peninsula.

HOSPITAL VISIT: Mike Reeve, second left, and John Ogden, centre, with the staff at the Demir Kapija hospital, the largest mental health institution in Macedonia.

They were invited by the ambassador of the Order Of Malta, which assists the elderly, disabled, refugeed, youngers, the homeless and those with terminal illness and leprosy in five continents of the world, to help transform a Macedonian hospital.

Mike Reeve, head of acute services, and John Ogden, general manager for Tukes, visited the Demir Kapija hospital, the largest mental health institution in Macedonia, to see how services are provided in the country and how NAViGO may be able to help with staff training and developing their service.

Tukes in Brighowgate, Grimsby, provides training, skills development and work experience in real working environments for people who are socially excluded due to mental health problems.

Mr Reeve said: "It was both humbling and inspiring to see the people at work in the hospital.
"It was one of the saddest and most moving things I have ever seen.

"We are now developing a comprehensive programme of training and visits for the Macedonian staff who will be coming over to Grimsby, hopefully in the next couple of months, to show them aspects of our service that will benefit the people who use their services back home."

Mr Ogden said: "We are very lucky with the services we are able to provide here in the UK, but unfortunately not every country is able to offer the same standard of care.

"The accommodation at the Demir Kapija facility was extremely bare, there were no carpets, only stone floors and the most basic of equipment.
"NAViGO appreciates just how much a difference the environment can make to a person's health and wellbeing, which is why this is something we really want to focus on assisting with."

It is hoped that six of the Macedonian staff will come over to North East Lincolnshire in September for four weeks and see the services NAViGO and partner organisations provide and receive training and support to help them make the changes back in Macedonia.

NAViGO is also hoping to be able to provide practical support at Demir Kapija, sending volunteer staff to assist in changes from time to time and partnering the hospital, also trying to make practical changes to brighten the environment.

Kevin Bond, chief executive of NAViGO, said: "We cannot underestimate the difference this partnership could have for the people who receive services in Macedonia.

"It is important we establish links with other providers, not just the UK but worldwide, and not only will we be of help, but we will also learn much ourselves from this partnership with people who are far less fortunate than us in terms of facilities."

Over the coming weeks, NAViGO staff plan to hold a series of fundraising events to help support the work in Macedonia. For more information, visit www.navigo care.co.uk