Crisis Rescue Foundation Latest News and Events
22nd of March 2024
BJGP Research & Publishing Conference 2024
CRF is proud to announce that the British Journal of General Practice - Research & Publishing Conference 2024 will feature a Poster Presentation of Crisis Rescue Foundation’s Vaxi Taxi / Health and Wellbeing Pop Ups Project.
10th of December 2023
The Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme SYMPOSIUM at BMA House in London
We are proud to announce that the first Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF) Medical School U.K. Elective Programme SYMPOSIUM took place on 10/12/23 at BMA House, London with the keynote address delivered by BMA Representative body Chair and Equality Chair Dr.Latifa Patel.
CRF Symposium participants travelled from across the U.K. and from the Ukraine, and graduates from various medical schools around the world joined, including Ukraine, Sudan, India, Belarus and Iraq.
CRF lecturers and international medical students and doctors impacted by war and local crises reflected on the challenges, opportunities, available support and CRF actions to best support international medics and refugee doctors were highlighted.
Huge thanks to The MDU, General Medical Council, British Medical Association, all the CRF student participants and the whole CRF Team for all your crucial contributions and support. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.
The feedback comments included the following:
"Thank you for the great organising, wonderful speakers and interesting topics."
"Thank you sooo much for this symposium. It was amazing"
"It covered all questions I had about medical school and working as a doctor in UK"
"The best ever I have participated as it is interactive"
"It was a true motivation and inspiration to me and I have received all the information I need to help me for the future"
"It was informative and positive"
"lots of useful guidance on challenges of accessing medical education and approaches to addressing this"
"It was perfect I consider myself very lucky"
We look forward to our next and sixth term of medical lectures and peer support for international medical students and doctors affected by war and hope you can help us achieve this goal by contributing to our gofundme campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-crisis-rescue-foundation-medical-school
17th of October 2023
Better Together - IMG and Educators Conference
CRF Medical School U.K. Elective Programme presented at the Better Together- IMG and Educators Conference on 17.10.23
Please see our poster which was displayed at the conference
15th of October 2023
BMA London Autumn 2023 Newsletter Features CRF Symposium
From the BMA Newsletter:
CRF SYMPOSIUM
Sunday 10th December
Calling all UK and international medical educators, doctors and medical students to please join us. Please help us to continue to support overseas trainee and qualified doctors affected by war!
If you have any queries/comments or if you would like to find out more about supporting the programme please contact Sharon Raymond, GP and director of Crisis Rescue Foundation UK Elective Programme.
Time: 11am-3pm
Location: BMA House, Tavistock Square London WC1H 9JP
Audience: UK and international medical educators, doctors and medical students
The Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School UK Elective Programme is the only free, virtual and global medical education programme of its kind and was established in April 2022. Since then we have been providing medical education, including undergraduate level lectures, recognised by overseas medical schools affected by war, postgraduate level lectures, PLAB lectures, war zone medicine lectures, peer support, wellbeing sessions and assistance in securing clinical placements to over 2000 registered students located globally, mainly from countries affected by war, with our team of over 250 medical educators, who are based in the UK and overseas.
The programme has been supported by key stakeholders including the MDU, GMC, BMA, the Ukrainian Medical Association of the United Kingdom; the Ukrainian Medical Students’ Association; Bogomolets National Medical University (Kyiv, Ukraine); the British Orthopaedic Association; the Sudan U.K. doctors’ group and the Alzaiera Alazhari Faculty of Medicine of Sudan and the UK Medical Schools Council.’
18th of September 2023
HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2023
Community Care Initiative of the Year
FINALIST Crisis Rescue Foundation for the Vaxi Taxi - Health and Wellbeing Pop Ups
12th of September 2023
BMA Letter to NHS England
Dear all,
CRF is pleased to share that the BMA have written to NHS England to move forward greater availability of appropriate Medical Support Worker roles in the U.K. for international medical graduates, including those affiliated with CRF who do not have GMC registration, with a specific request to NHS England to work with the BMA and CRF to progress this.
Thank you to all CRF medics who responded to the CRF survey on the subject of the MSW role,
Kind regards,
Dr Sharon Raymond
DIRECTOR CRISIS RESCUE FOUNDATION
8th of September 2023
Student Feedback
‘Dr. Sharon ,I can't thank you enough for the amazing opportunity you're giving to us , I have just finished the one week of training in the GP , it was amazing to refresh my medical information.’
‘I have a good news , I am one of the doctors who attended PLAB2 training event and thankfully, I have passed with good marks after I was depressed from my previous attempt.’
‘Thank you so much for your efforts and consideration doctor.’
29th of August 2023
CRF support for AAC Faculty of Medicine:
Lectures for Final Year Medical Students Affected by War in Sudan
The Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme will be supporting the Alzaiera Alazhari Faculty of Medicine (AAU F of M) of Sudan with online lectures over the next term, Term 5, commencing in October 2023.
The latest batch of AAU medical students were just months away from graduation when the war started in Sudan on the 15th of April 2023. This war has led to millions of Sudan's population being displaced internally or seeking refuge in other countries and to the suspension of all teaching in schools and universities in Sudan.
Now, after 4 months of the war, AAU Faculty of Medicine has decided to restart teaching the didactic part of medical studies online, with the support of CRF lecturers, and for students to be attached to the nearest hospital to their place of domicile for practical teaching.
UPCOMING EVENT
10th of December 2023
The Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme Symposium
The Symposium will explore:
Medical education and peer support for medics in times of war and other local crises
The work of the Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme so far
The learning and any actions going forward
With contributions from Crisis Rescue Foundation lecturers, students and supporting organisations, including the BMA and MDU.
19th of June 2023
VAXI TAXI / HEALTH AND WELL BEING POP UPS PROJECT SHORTLISTED FOR THE HJS AWARDS
Crisis Rescue Foundation is delighted and humbled to announce that our Vaxi Taxi/Health and Wellbeing Pop Ups Project has been shortlisted for the COMMUNITY CARE INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR category of the HJS AWARDS. Many thanks to the many people and organisations involved!
8th of June 2023
We are proud to share the Crisis Rescue Foundation and Medical Defence Union Press Release published 8th of June
“MDU partners with Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School UK Elective programme to help medical students impacted by war and other crises
The Medical Defence Union (MDU) has partnered with non-profit organisation Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF) Medical School UK Elective programme to support medical students in and displaced from Ukraine and other war-torn regions.
The CRF Medical School supports oversees trainee and qualified doctors affected by war and other local crises to continue their medical education and get the support they need to care for patients now and in the future.
The MDU's head of advisory services Dr Udvitha Nandasoma will provide lecture support to the school. There are currently in excess of 2,000 students registered on the programme and numbers have grown by around 300 students in the last two weeks alone.
The CRF Medical School was established in April 2022 by Dr Sharon Raymond, a GP. Dr Raymond, who is the director of the organisation, said:
“We are really pleased to work with the MDU in supporting medical students from war-torn countries to access the education and peer support they need to continue their studies or to achieve placements in the UK when displaced.
“We were aware that some Ukraine-based lecturers were having to leave their bunkers to deliver lectures. Whilst medical education is disrupted or paused due to war or other local crises, we step in to act as a bridge until such time as medical education is resumed locally. In addition, we support those medics who've been displaced to the UK and are hoping to contribute to the NHS in achieving clinical placements in the UK. We have arranged around 50 placements to date.
“We are lucky to have a team of dedicated lecturers, many of whom are leading UK medical educators. We warmly welcome Dr Nandasoma to our lecture team."
Dr Nandasoma said:
“We are extremely proud to be supporting the vital work of the CRF Medical School UK Elective programme. Medical school is challenging enough without having to complete your studies from another country because of war or poverty in your home nation. The work Sharon and colleagues are doing to ensure students can keep studying is fantastic and we are honoured to be involved.”
The MDU previously announced it was waiving the first year of membership subscriptions for doctors fleeing conflict in war zones, such as Ukraine, who come to practice in the UK.
The programme has received over 21,000 overwhelmingly positive feedback responses from students to date. Find out more about the CRF by visiting: crisisrescuefoundation.co.uk/crisis-rescue-foundation”
Find out more about the MDU/CRF partnership at the MDU website.
“One year ago, we highlighted the fantastic work of North West London Faculty GP Sharon Raymond who is the director of The Crisis Rescue Foundation (CRF), which has been delivering free online education and peer support to displaced Ukraine and now Sudanese medical students. They have received over 21,000 positive messages from students and have 900 students registered for their current term of teaching. CRF has facilitated 50 clinical placements for colleagues in the UK who have been studying and trained in countries in the midst of war or crises. If your practice is able to support a student, please visit the CRF website for more information or email crfmedschool@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, the crisis in Sudan continues and our thoughts are very much with our Sudanese members and their families at this difficult time.”
- Dr Margaret Ikpoh, RCGP Vice Chair for Professional Development
26th of May 2023
ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS
North & West London Faculty
Vice Chair's news and headlines with Margaret Ikpoh
19th of May 2023
RefuAid Recruitment Event
On the 19th of May 2023, Dr Sharon Raymond, Director of CRF, was invited to speak at the RefuAid Recruitment Event for refugee doctors aiming to work for the NHS.
Dr Sharon Raymond spoke on the support the Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme provides to international medical graduates impacted by war and crises, including medical lectures, peer and wellbeing support and clinical placements, and also gave guidance on preparation for the U.K. PLAB examination.
5th of May 2023
Support for CRF students from Anatomy Learning Outcomes for Medicine
Thank you to Rob Moore, from Anatomy Learning Outcomes for Medicine for granting the CRF Medical School U.K. Elective Programme access to their website.
25th of April 2023
The Ukraine Health Summit
On 25 April 2023, Dr Sharon Raymond , Director of CRF, was honoured to speak on the work of the CRF Medical School U.K. Elective Programme in supporting Ukraine medical students at the Ukraine Health Summit. The Summit was hosted by Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), with support from the British Red Cross.
The Summit's goal was to further efforts in supporting the delivery and restoration of health services in Ukraine, during and beyond the current armed conflict.
Objectives of the day were:
To describe the humanitarian work that has been undertaken so far in supporting Ukraine and the health priorities for the next 24 months;
To explore opportunities for UK health organisations to work together with healthcare institutions in Ukraine;
To describe areas of transformation within the restoration process for health care and indicate how these areas can be supported.
Imperial College London staff and students are invited to attend the Plenary sessions in the morning and afternoon, featuring keynote speakers and a panel session on ‘The evolution of humanitarian needs in Ukraine with a focus on the health sector’.
Speakers included Chaired by Kamran Abassi, BMJ; Prof Hugh Brady, President, Imperial College London; Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, Co-Director, IGHI, Imperial College London; Sergii Dubrov, Deputy Minister, Ukrainian Ministry of Health; Dr Henry Marsh, English neurosurgeon, and a pioneer of neurosurgical advances in Ukraine; Roman Cregg President of the Ukrainian Medical Association in the UK; Natalie Roberts, Executive Director Médicins Sans Frontières; Mike Adamson, CEO British Red Cross; David Wightwick, CEO of UK-Med.
Crisis Rescue Foundation Sudan Crisis Support Group
On the 24th of April 2023, the Crisis Rescue Foundation established the CRF Sudan Crisis Support Group to support Sudanese clinicians during the current conflict by delivering bespoke clinical and well-being sessions to Sudanese clinicians through the Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme.
“Dear Dr Sharon Raymond,
It is our pleasure to find you among us, I would like to thank you and all the medical professionals doctors who have contributed to this worthwhile endeavour.
Please allow me to express, on behalf of all the Sudanese students who joined you from the Faculties of Medicine in various Sudanese universities, our deep gratitude to you for giving them the opportunity to participate in this group, as they are in a desperate need to complete their medical studies but during this critical time for sudan, and sudden war conditions that Sudan is going through and no one knows when will end.
We wish you all success, and also to every student here in this group from different countries, and we are confident that all these students will eventually become doctors to do one humanitarian work, so we are really grateful to all of you.
Best Wishes”
- Dalia, NHS Clinical Embryologist and parent of two medical students studying in Sudan
28th March 2023
Crisis Rescue Foundation
PLAB TRAINING DAY IN LONDON
Celebrating a year of medical lectures delivered by the Crisis Rescue Foundation Medical School U.K. Elective Programme for displaced and refugee medical students and recently qualified doctors.
We are also proud to share that our first face to face training day on the 28th of March 2023 which was for refugee doctors sitting their PLAB 2 and held at BMA House with the support of the BMA, MDU, General Medical Council and expert medical educators was very well received. All attendees rated the training day good and excellent. We hope to run another face to face training event soon!
PLAB TRAINING DAY FACILITATOR FEEDBACK
...brilliant brilliant day. Amazing organisation and it was a privilege to meet the candidates and to meet my co examiner..So impressed by everyone's knowledge and approach. Congrats on stupendous organisation!’
‘Excellent day, well organised and what an inspiration Dr Sharon Raymond is!’
‘You are the one who had the foresight and energy to organise us all! You should be so proud Sharon!’
‘I feel honoured to be a small part of this, Sharon. Thank you for inspiring us all!’
‘Really good day and worthwhile judging by feedback from participants.’
PLAB TRAINING DAY TRAINEE DOCTORS' FEEDBACK
‘Thank you very much for today training. It is very useful and I have learned a lot from all of the osce stations. It’s not only just for practice but also giving feedback to me is really helpful. All of the people in the stations are very supportive and professional. I’m really glad I have joined today’s training.’
‘Thank you so much for this wonderful training day. It was really helpful.’
‘Thank you very much for the much-needed support. Today's training was excellent. The facilitators were amazing, and there were many things to learn from their feedback. I hope we will have further such opportunities.’
‘... this event was extremely helpful, educative , the doctor are knowledgeable and and highly skilled. My confidence to sitting plab is definitely boosted.’
‘You have done a great job. Everything was just perfect, your effort and assistance to this event is sincerely appreciated. This could not have happened without you. You just AMAZING.’
‘It was an amazing experience. I truly feel blessed to be part of this foundation. Two thumbs up for the work you do! And Thank you!’
ARTICLES
ARTICLES
‘A Project Providing Free Online Education to Ukraine Medical Students’, by Professor Steven LA Jeffery with contributions from Dr Sharon Raymond, British Journal of Nursing 2023, Vol 32, No 4
Dr Sharon Raymond quoted in PULSE, the national GP publication, regarding the need for Health and Wellbeing pop ups in the heart of communities to address NHS GP surgery capacity issues - 7th March 2023
22nd February 2023
Two Crisis Rescue Foundation Health and Wellbeing Pop ups at Lewisham College
Mental health/ Sexual Health/ Drugs/ Alcohol/ Oral Health/ Mentoring/ Bleed Control ( Basic Life Support) Awareness
2 Bleed Control Kits were donated to the SEL College
Students received toiletry goodie bags, sports T-shirts and bespoke CRF local mental health support packs with a QR code to a link tree for ease of reference
Each young person received a certificate for each student
The Mayoress of Lewisham joined the Pop Ups too!
Staff Feedback:
‘It's been one week after the workshop…It was a pleasure having you attending and delivering an informative and educational programme.
The feedback from the learners was great.
Curriculum have fedback and have been asked to share college wide. Thanks for collaborating so sucessfully.
A great big thank you to you all and a special thank you to you Sharon
THANK YOU ALL! ‘
Maxine, Welfare Engagement Advisor, Lewisham College
Student Feedback:
‘Informative’
‘Very useful and exciting’
‘Very friendly and engaging and loved to see more’
‘Really exciting! Wish we could do this more often, I’ve learned a lot, especially bleed control as I lost someone’
