• Issued by University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Medical students are from today supporting health services across Coventry and Warwickshire to help fight COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

120 final year students from Warwick Medical School at The University of Warwick were initially employed by the NHS locally to deliver vital support to existing medical and other clinical staff to help with the response to Coronavirus, now increased to 270.

The students, who have volunteered to work in local health services will be undertaking duties such as clerking patients, administrative tasks to support clinical teams and operating a doctor ‘buddy’ system.

60 students will be working at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and 30 each at Warwick Hospital and George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

All have already taken and passed their Finals examinations and achieved the required standard to deliver basic care in a highly supervised clinical setting.

Professor Kiran Patel, Chief Medical Officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, said:

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible response from our local Medical School students who want to help the NHS in what is a really challenging time.

“Together with the University of Warwick, we have mobilised these students very quickly, and have pulled together a comprehensive support package for them as they start in employment, including induction, supervision, pastoral care, mentoring and mental health support.

“The three NHS Trusts have worked collaboratively to support the employment and placement of the medical students to help our local communities.

“It’s really heartening to hear that so many of them are willing to step up at this critical time, I am very proud to be working alongside these brilliant individuals.”

Professor Sudhesh Kumar, the Dean of Warwick Medical School said:

“As Dean of Warwick Medical School I am both deeply proud and grateful that all these talented young medical students are adding their talent, energy and commitment to the frontline of the pandemic response in our region’s hospitals.”

Jonny Kaberry, one of the Warwick Medical School students, said:

“Instead of going on elective placement this month, due to the increasing demand on the healthcare system here in the UK we have decided to stay in Coventry and Warwickshire to support the local health services. We are happy that we are playing our part during this critical time.”

Dhivyaa Premachandra, another of the Warwick Medical School students said:

“This is what we’ve spent the last four years training for, so we’re really pleased be using those skills and knowledge to help support the NHS.”

UHCW is also working with academic partners, volunteers and members of the public who are keen to support the Trust’s hospitals.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW) is one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in the UK, comprising University Hospital in Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby and working in partnership with Warwick University Medical School and Coventry University. It has over 9,000 staff and delivers services across the West Midlands region. This includes hosting region-wide services such as the Coventry and Warwickshire Pathology Network and Bowel Cancer Screening programme. The Trust works closely with its partners in health and social care in Coventry and Warwickshire to develop patient-focused services that meet the needs of our communities.

In this period of national lockdown, for conditions that are not an emergency, patients are always encouraged to consider self-care where possible, checking out NHS 111 online www.nhs.uk, visit their pharmacist and contacting their doctor for advice to avoid attending with minor illnesses and injuries where possible.

1 April 2020

Media contacts: communications@uhcw.nhs.uk

02476 967597