A delegation of senior directors from state-owned Shanghai Hospital Development Centre (SHDC) attended an 18 day leadership development programme designed and delivered by Møller Executive Education and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The programme, which combined lectures, debates on healthcare policy, discussions and site visits, has been designed to give senior directors an invaluable insight into public and private sector healthcare provision in the UK and enable directors from Shanghai Hospital to contrast the UK experience with the functional challenges shaping modern China’s health policy environment and healthcare marketplace.
State-owned Shanghai Hospital Development Centre (SHDC) is responsible for investing, managing and operating the state assets of municipal public hospitals and running hospitals on behalf of the government.
The Shanghai delegation heard from leading figures from the UK healthcare sector including some of the most senior members of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Dr Keith McNeill, Chief Executive Officer; David Wherrett, Director of Workforce, and Sally Standley, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Cambridge University Health Partners.
Other speakers included Sir David Nicholson, former CEO of NHS England; Tony Jewell, former Chief Medical Officer, NHS Wales; Jan Filochowski, former CEO, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and Lord Wilson of Dinton, former Economic Secretariat in the Cabinet Office under Margaret Thatcher.
Miss Rong Tao, Deputy head of HR Shanghai Hospital Group explained, “Our bespoke programme was designed to help us develop a comprehensive understanding of the major global and national health development and healthcare system reform issues. We have enjoyed the learning experience which has encouraged to reflect on the challenges we face and sharpen our problem-solving, strategic planning, and leadership skills. This will help us to design, introduce, and sustain major policy and institutional plans in China.”
David Wherrett, Director of Workforce at Cambridge University Hospitals said, ‘It was a great pleasure for us to welcome this community of health leaders from Shanghai to the City of Cambridge and to Cambridge University Hospitals. The energy, enthusiasm and ideas that arose from the different communities talking together was both stimulating and inspiring”.