Vietnam turns to BCU as it seeks to build its first national emergency response service

More than 100 million people in Vietnam will benefit from life-saving emergency pre-hospital care thanks to the expertise of Birmingham City University (BCU).

The UK institution is working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and a number of university partners in Vietnam to establish the country’s first national emergency response service.

“This is groundbreaking,” said BCU’s Professor Joy Notter, who has worked in Vietnam for many years and holds a campaign medal for services to health from the Vietnamese government.

“BCU has an opportunity to help Vietnam establish its new professional service for a whole nation. It’s a privilege to be invited to join our Vietnamese colleagues.”

Using its 20 years of experience in paramedic training, BCU will work with Vietnam National University - University of Medicine and Pharmacy (VNU-UMP) to develop a curriculum for its staff and students.

“We urgently need a paramedic system like the UK – and BCU is well known for paramedic training,” said Dr Nguyen Thanh, Deputy Head of the Department of Paramedics at VNU-UMP.

“We want to develop a curriculum and simulation centre for medical and paramedic training. We can find the answer at this university.”

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has acknowledged that up to 81% of casualties in Vietnam currently have no access to emergency medical services.

In Hanoi, there are just 15 ambulances and a handful of specialists to support the 10 million people living in the capital city.

According to BCU’s Associate Professor Chris Carter, the delays in treatment in Vietnam and the harm caused to casualties during their transfer to hospital often result in poorer outcomes.

“Vietnam has a high incidence of trauma, particularly head injuries,” said Professor Carter.

“By improving pre-hospital care, we can give these people a better chance of survival and reduce morbidity and mortality through improved outcomes.”

To provide insight into BCU’s expertise and training, Professors Carter and Notter hosted a recent study tour for VNU-UMP partners.

“The purpose of the visit was to find out what Vietnam needs,” said Professor Carter.

“We’re exposing them to the UK healthcare system, to gain an understanding not only of the curriculum, but also how it would fit into the wider emergency response service.”

The VNU delegation also visited West Midlands and East of England ambulance services, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.

Supported by the Academy of Medical Sciences through the International Science Partnerships Fund and with the backing of the Vietnam Association of Critical Medicine, Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, the project builds on two decades of close collaboration with BCU.

Professor Le Ngoc Thanh, Rector of VNU-UMP and the project’s Co-Principal Investigator, said: “I am delighted with this partnership with Birmingham City University, and we look forward to a very successful project.”

Professor Nguyen Gia Binh, president of the Vietnam Association of Critical Care Medicine, Emergency and Clinical Toxicology, added: “I have always recognised the need for pre-hospital services, and we are delighted that this project will help us start the new service.”

Pictured: From left - Professor Le Ngoc Thanh (Rector of VNU-UMP), Professor Joy Notter, Associate Professor Chris Carter, and Professor Maxine Lintern (Pro Vice-Chancellor Research at BCU) mark the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between VNU-UMP and BCU (Credit: BCU)