Four doctors from Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) Medical Clinic travelled to the UK for the first time to visit the Cripps Health Centre at the University of Nottingham, strengthening a long-standing partnership rooted in collaboration, learning, and shared purpose.
The week-long visit marked another milestone in the growing relationship between CCF, the Cripps Health Centre, and the University of Nottingham—one that continues to bridge continents through education, healthcare, and innovation.
Last year (2025), a consultation room at the Cripps Health Centre, the University of Nottingham Health Service, was twinned with one at CCF’s Christopher’s Hope Medical Clinic, linking the two together.
Daniel Hammersley, Chief Operating Officer of the Cripps Health Centre, visited Cambodia to see CCF’s Medical Clinic and Maternal Care Program, met with local staff, and saw firsthand the transformative impact of free healthcare on families living in extreme poverty.
Led by CCF Healthcare Manager Dr Vuth, the delegation to the UK in April immersed themselves in the operations of one of the UK’s largest single-site general practices, gaining valuable insight into clinical systems, patient care pathways, and emerging technologies.
Throughout the visit, the team shadowed clinicians, explored UK treatment protocols, and observed how technology is shaping modern healthcare delivery.
“We have learned many things,” said Dr Keo Sopheara, one of the doctors at CCF's Medical Clinic. “Cripps Health Centre is quite similar to us in some ways, but their systems are very different. They are more prepared—knowing who is coming in each day and having patient histories easily accessible. This is something we can learn from.”
One key area of interest was the use of artificial intelligence to support clinical note-taking—an innovation that could significantly reduce administrative burden.
“Every day, we see a lot of patients and spend a lot of time writing notes,” Dr Sopheara explained. “Using AI to record and support documentation would save time and allow us to focus more on patients.”
Dr Vuth echoed this, highlighting the benefits of integrated digital health systems.
“The UK has a very strong health record system,” he said. “It’s easy to follow up and clearly understand a patient’s treatment. This is something that would be very useful for us.”
We are in different countries, but we have the same goal—to provide the best possible care to our patients
Despite differences in systems and resources, the similarities between the two healthcare settings were striking.
“We are in different countries, but we have the same goal—to provide the best possible care to our patients,” said Dr. Pheara.
The CCF doctors also observed the role of specialist services within a general practice setting, including on-site dermatology, psychology, and sports medicine—an approach that could inspire future development at CCF.
“At the Cripps Health Centre, they have specialists working alongside general doctors,” said Dr Vuth. “This helps improve the quality of treatment. It’s something we would like to develop in our own team through further training and specialisation.”
Beyond clinical practice, the visit offered valuable insight into staff wellbeing and occupational health—an area that left a lasting impression on the team.
“Their staff have spaces to relax and time to rest between patients. This is something we don’t always think about, but it’s very important," said Dr Vuth.
Dr Sopheara agreed, noting the importance of mental health support in the medical profession.
“As doctors, we hear a lot of difficult stories from patients,” she said. “If we don’t take care of ourselves, it can affect us. Learning about occupational health and even simple practices like meditation was very valuable.”
If they learned from me only a fraction of what I learned from them, I’ll be delighted.
The exchange was not only a learning opportunity for the visiting doctors but also a chance for UK clinicians to gain insight into healthcare delivery in Cambodia.
“It was really special to meet the team from CCF,” said Dr. James Cottee, GP. “Their dedication to providing quality healthcare despite limited resources is truly inspiring.”
Dr. Richard Armitage added: “We realised there are many similarities between our workplaces, but also important differences. If they learned from me only a fraction of what I learned from them, I’ll be delighted.”
The visit builds on a partnership that has grown over nine years, spanning healthcare, education, and research. Supported by the Cripps Foundation, the collaboration continues to create meaningful opportunities for knowledge exchange and capacity building.
To mark the eight-year-long partnership, last year CCF presented the university with a stunning stone carving - a smaller replica of one in traditional Angkor-Wat style hanging in the entrance of CCF’s high school, the NCA.
The carving can be seen in the entrance to the Monica Partridge Building at University Park.
During the trip, CCF's medical team also met with Professor Jane Norman, the President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.
They can come to Cambodia...we can learn from each other
Future plans include potential reciprocal visits, with Cripps Health Centre staff exploring opportunities to travel to Cambodia and experience CCF’s work first-hand.
“We talked about continuing the exchange,” said Dr Vuth. “They can come to Cambodia, and we can keep sharing knowledge. We can learn from each other.”
For Dr Sopheara, the experience has left a lasting impact.
“I would love to go back,” she said. “We made strong connections, and there is so much more we can learn together.”
The visit also reflects the strength of CCF’s wider collaboration with the University of Nottingham, which includes teacher training through the PGCEi program and cross-cultural student initiatives such as the STEM in My Life exhibition.
During the UK trip, the CCF team viewed photographs from this year’s annual CCF STEM In My Life exhibition, which featured our students collaborating with schoolchildren from Nottingham in a cross-cultural exchange that connected young people from very different backgrounds. The 20 photographs exploring STEM in everyday life were first exhibited at a science fair in Nottingham, before going on public display at a restaurant in Phnom Penh, and are now showcased at the Cripps Health Centre.
