BNU collaborates with Suwa Seriya Foundation to deliver life-saving resuscitation training in Sri Lanka
Academics and students at Buckinghamshire New University visited Sri Lanka for the second time since October 2023 to deliver comprehensive training in resuscitation techniques.
Following Sri Lanka’s independence from the UK in 1948, the country’s healthcare system has dramatically improved. Over a period of around 80 years, welfare policies have centred on healthcare development, enabling Sri Lanka to achieve good standards of health throughout (compared with its neighbouring countries).
Representatives from the University, as well as a paramedic from the London Ambulance Service, worked with the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, a national service established thanks to a generous donation from the Indian government, that provides pre-hospital care and emergency response services free of charge to any person until they reach the nearest healthcare provider.
The team of educators, led by Senior Lecturer Tim Weekes, comprised of Associate Lecturer Eva Bartoskova, BNU graduate paramedic Jess Walter and final year student paramedics Mialara Coleman and Lena Ricci-Hodgson. Tim Bowler, Education Sector Support Manager and paramedic from London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) also joined the team.
The program, which commenced on the 2nd of June, consisted of eight intensive training days covering the latest evidence-based practice for providing out of hospital cardiac arrest care. The education package focused on several skill stations looking at airway management, high-quality CPR and safe defibrillation techniques. This was followed by scenario-based simulations, capturing the unique and challenging aspects of prehospital care.
“Our team is honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate for a second year with Sri Lankan healthcare professionals”, said Tim Weekes (Senior Lecturer at BNU). “By sharing our expertise in resuscitation techniques, we aim to empower local medical teams to deliver life-saving interventions with confidence and efficiency. With the ultimate goal of saving more lives and improving survival outcomes of those who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest”.
The training session and knowledge exchange project were held in the capital, Colombo, and were designed to be highly interactive, featuring hands-on practice and real-time simulations. Participants included 252 EMT’s, plus the Chief Medical Officer and Training Managers from the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation. The workshop covered:
- Epidemiology of out of hospital cardiac arrest
- Effective CPR
- Use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- Airway management techniques
- Team-based resuscitation strategies
This initiative has been greatly enriched through the collaboration with the London Ambulance Service Education Department. The collaboration ensures that the training is comprehensive, up-to-date, and aligned with the latest best practices in emergency medical care. “This was an amazing course and really useful for my practice,” said one EMT from the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, adding, “I now feel more confident in delivering life support”.
Final year student, Lena Ricci-Hodgson said: “It’s inspiring to see the dedication of the Sri Lankan medical professionals. The opportunity to reflect on my own education, develop my own communication skills and enhance my own knowledge through teaching others has been invaluable and pivotal to my own aspirations as a soon to be qualified paramedic”.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by BNU to support global health through education and capacity building. Following the training, ongoing support and follow-up sessions are planned to ensure the sustainability of the skills and knowledge imparted. This knowledge exchange project was part funded by a BNU Alliance Fund grant secured at the end of 2023.
The alliance fund helped to purchase essential training equipment that was donated to 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, as well supporting accommodation costs for the visiting BNU team. Further equipment was also donated by London Ambulance Service Trust, which will now be utilised by the 1990 training team to continue delivery of this workshop to the remaining frontline staff.
Return flights were funded by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, and the team received a notable visit from the Deputy High Commissioner, who expressed her appreciation for the international collaboration and the positive impact it will have on the local healthcare system.
The paramedic team at BNU are now working on a Memorandum of Understanding with 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation to continue our partnership and support to develop prehospital care education for all of Sri Lanka. The team look forward to returning to Sri Lanka in due course to deliver the next package of education and continue our conversations with Universities in Sri Lanka who are keen to develop an undergraduate paramedic pathway in the medium to long term.