A GLOBE-backed campaign in aid of Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust's fight against coronavirus has been boosted by a donation from a group of Chinese doctors following a visit last year. 

The COVID-19 appeal was launched by the trust in April to help Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals by raising money to tackle the pandemic in Wirral. It has, so far, raised more than £65,000.

A group of doctors from China who visited the hospitals last summer to learn about best practice in healthcare and have now donated more than £4,500 to the campaign.

The consultants were members of the Chinese Doctors Clinical Health Management Programme, organised by Valette’s Business School, Manchester. During their visit, they shadowed some of WUTH's consultants, to gain an understanding of the UK healthcare system.

A spokesperson for the programme said: "Even before the COVD-19 pandemic, the health system in China was undergoing major changes, as it looks to modify the current provision to meet the ever changing requirement of the population.

"To facilitate this, Chinese healthcare leaders are looking outside of China for examples of best practice in healthcare provision.

"As well as gaining insight into the NHS from a clinical perspective, the programme members were able to see at first hand different clinical practices."

The consultants, whose specialties included Gastroenterology, Radiology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics and Urology, spent time with the clinical teams in these departments.  

Dr Ged Dugan, director of Valette’s Business School said: "Many of the doctors who attended the programme contributed to the fund and over £4,500 was collected. 

"In terms of the incomes of doctors in China, this is a significant amount for them to give personally and collectively.

"The wishes of the Chinese doctors are to divide the fund between a number of the Trust and Health Boards that gave substantial support to the programme."

Dr Nikki Stevenson, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO at WUTH said: "This is an extremely generous gesture and donation.

"I would like to express my thanks to our medical colleagues in China, along with our wishes for their good health.

"Now more than ever, it’s important that medical professionals throughout the world pool our knowledge to advance healthcare globally.

"The donation will be allocated to our Critical Care fund for the benefit of our patients during and after the pandemic."

The Chinese Doctors Clinical Health Management Programme is part of an initiative, which is looking to develop links between the evolving Chinese healthcare system and healthcare in the North of the UK. 

The Chinese Government supports the hosting of international conferences and overseas study visits to enable Chinese healthcare leaders to gain insights into how healthcare is delivered in other countries.