Centre for International Health Partnerships

Transforming critical care worldwide

Researchers at Birmingham City University are working worldwide to enhance critical care nursing. Professors Chris Carter and Joy Notter, the driving forces behind the centre, have worked in 12 countries over more than two decades. Their remit has always been to work with local partners to capacity strengthen nursing. With the support of BCU, two critical care nursing courses have been launched (advanced diploma and bachelor’s degree) and delivered at three colleges, attracting students from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.

Our work in Zambia

400 nurses registered or in training by local partners: Two critical care nursing courses launched (advanced diploma and bachelor’s degree) delivered at three colleges, attracting students from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho.
700 nurses trained to safely administer oxygen: 76 ‘super trainers’ from 19 hospitals shared the training with 672 healthcare workers. It was funded by the DAK Foundation and Build Health International (BHI) and the Critical Care Nurses Association of Zambia (CCNAZ). This built upon a UKRI / Newton project during Covid-19.
Eight Zambian nurses mentored by UK practitioners: Nurses from five provinces spanning over 500 miles signed up for support, guidance, and virtual networking through a mentorship programme with Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Zambia.
1,600 nurses and healthcare workers trained during Covid-19: The UKRI/Newton Covid-19 project spanned 18 months and supported the Covid-19 response in Zambia:
Five emerging leaders in Emergency, Trauma, Operating Theatre and Critical Care: On completing the 18-month Nursing Now Challenge, Fellows shared their work at pre-World Health Assembly conference, international conferences, and in a journal.
65 international volunteers engaged: Taking part in activities in-country and virtually, including online lectures, mentorship, peer reviewers, and clinical assessment.

Find out more about our work in Zambia

Lifetime Achievement Award for BCU professor whose global work impacts thousands

From the UK to Ukraine, and from Vietnam to Zambia, Professor Joy Notter has transformed the lives of thousands of people through her many healthcare initiatives over the past 50 years.

Find out more

Current Projects

We have many current projects with international partners, the case studies shown here give an indication of the international work currently in progress and recently completed.

View projects

Centre leads

Chris Carter

Chris is a Senior Lecturer, an experienced critical care nurse and leader and during the first wave of the Covid-19 was seconded as Matron for Critical Care in a London Hospital.

Meet Chris

Professor Joy Notter

Professor Joy Notter is Professor of Community Health Care at Birmingham City University. She trained as a nurse in the Nightingale Training School, St Thomas’ Hospital, London.

Meet Joy

Impact Reports

Read our impact reports from our international health partnerships since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre for International Health partnerships acts as a virtual community of practice linking healthcare staff from research, education and practice. The group sits within the faculty’s Academic Portfolio and Market Development team and case studies give an indication of the international work currently in progress or recently completed. Much of the work has been about knowledge exchange and transfer and research between members of the community of practice with the aim of extending and enhancing practice internationally.

For more information on our work, please contact Chris.Carter@bcu.ac.uk.