Timor-Leste ICU Clinicians Strengthen Critical Care Skills

The ICU at Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV) has taken another important step toward strengthening critical care in Timor-Leste.

Between 18 and 30 August 2025, more than 50 nurses and doctors participated in a two-week ICU refresher training activity designed to enhance knowledge, confidence and teamwork across the multi-disciplinary team.

The activity  was developed at the request of HNGV’s ICU leadership, who identified a need to refresh and consolidate core knowledge in anatomy, physiology, patient care and critical care practice. Sessions combined classroom teaching, case discussions, and bedside mentoring, led by critical care nursing and medical educators from RECSI and Menzies School of Health Research, together with guests from Maubisse Referral Hospital and the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS).

Image 1 and 2: Facilitators and participants; Facilitators and HGNV Staff (bottom) who took part in the ICU Refresher Training 

The refresher training focused on building confidence and capacity, combining classroom teaching with in-ward activities, including bedside teaching and mentoring for nursing and medical staff. The HNGV ICU medical and nursing team were able to discuss and progress quality improvement plans for patient care at HNGV as well as share with the RECSI team ideas into how Timor’s critical care capacity across its referral hospital network could be strengthened into the future.

This refresher training was designed not only to strengthen immediate clinical capacity, but also to enhance multidisciplinary teamwork, with integrated sessions between nursing and medical staff. 

The program also provides a foundation for future activities planned under the RECSI program including future clinical training and Australia-based observerships planned for 2026.

The ICU Head of Department, Nurse David Amaral Lopes remarked:

"The training was invaluable for me and the ICU team. It provided us with the latest knowledge and skills to improve patient care and outcomes. The interactive sessions and case studies helped us to better understand the complexities of critical care and how to apply evidence-based practices in our daily work.

What stood out to me was the emphasis on teamwork and communication, which is crucial in the ICU where every second counts. The training allowed us to reflect on our current practices and identify areas for improvement, which will ultimately benefit our patients.

In the future, this training will enable us to provide more effective and efficient care, improve patient safety, and enhance our collaboration with other healthcare professionals. I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate and look forward to implementing the new knowledge and skills in our ICU".

Following the refresher training, the HNGV ICU team has initiated  a weekly quality improvement program focussing on strengthening ICU policies and protocols, staff education, and patient and family interaction in the unit. 

Images 3-5: Facilitators and participants took part in skills stations, classroom sessions and bedside teaching as part of the week long program of training. 

Benjamin Dingle, the RECSI Clinical Lead Critical Care Timor-Leste summed up the activity by saying:

“This was an exciting opportunity to work alongside the staff at HNGV ICU and the first time that both Australian nursing and medical critical care staff have spent time in HNGV’s intensive care. We would like to thank the HNGV executive and ICU team for their warm welcome and enthusiastic participation in the training, mentoring and strategy discussions. RECSI looks forward to continuing to work with our Timorese colleagues as we jointly plan for and implement activities into 2026. It was great to see that following our visit, the HNGV ICU team took many of their ideas and our suggestions, and have strengthened some really great patient and family focused quality initiatives in the unit”. 

Images 6-9: Local and international facilitators worked with staff within the clinical setting at HGNV. 

The Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI) is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative. Delivery in Timor-Leste is driven by RECSI’s implementing partner Menzies School of Health Research.