MSR’s bottom-up, narrow focus, wide impact strategy means that where physical aid is concerned we focused on Zalau County Emergency Hospital (previously known as Salaj District Hospital). This has led to an extraordinary degree of trust between the hospital and MSR. However, where training is concerned we are nationwide. As a result Zalau Emergency Hospital became a partner with MSR in seeking to make a positive impact on health care nationally.

In this way Zalau County Emergency Hospital can pilot practices and standards with a potential for national impact.

MSR focuses locally where aid is concerned, but nationally with regard to training.
MSR  provides training courses in the UK and Romania.
MSR delivers medical equipment and Supplies.
MSR can undertake and disseminate research.

Between 1990 & 2009, 222 medical & specialist personnel, mostly from the UK, have made 365 visits to Romania, mostly to the Zalau County Emergency Hospital, which is twinned with Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Cambridgeshire.

During the same period there have been 95 training visits by Romanian medical & other staff to the UK. 

The ‘NARROW FOCUS - WIDE IMPACT' strategy has borne fruit. The beneficiaries are the Patients and also the Romanian Health Service. Both have profited Nationally and Locally from the expertise freely given by UK health Service professionals.

BENEFITS

• National and Local benefits were best exemplified by the involvement of the Bucharest Institute of Public Health and the 4th National Pathology meeting hosted by Zalau County Emergency Hospital in 1998.
• Morale of hospital and Motivation of medical staff has improved.
• Long term links with British counterparts have been established. 
• Media: MSR’s IT equipment installation has led to the hospital creating its own Website. 
• Volunteering: The concept and value of voluntary work has been noticed by MSR’s generous Romanian hosts who have found local sponsorship, opened their homes and frequently worked extra hours without pay.
• Twinning: In 1994/5 Zalau County Emergency Hospital was twinned with Hinchingbrooke Hospital. 
• Occupational health and safety has a raised profile, with improvements in most areas. 
• Increased Bucharest support: Both Parliament and The Romanian Ministry of Health approved funding for major infrastructure investment, namely the introduction of methane gas and new boilers. By October 2000, the installation was complete. Hospital director: “The investment was approved absolutely owing to the collaboration that Zalau County Emergency Hospital has with MSR and it refers to the achieving of the MSR’s project to rehabilitate the hospital’s infrastructure. The introduction of the methane gas was the most important condition to achieve the Project of Infrastructure, a project that is vital for hospital and can be a pilot project for all the hospitals within the country.”

Further Information and Downloads

• Narrow Focus - Wide Impact