Coventry University’s mock hospital helping train medical students to support the NHS
A UNIVERSITY building has been reopened to help train medical staff to bolster the NHS.
Coventry University had to shut all its campus buildings and move teaching online as the lockdown hit Britain in efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus.
But now, the Alison Gingell building is being reopened to train medical students to take on new clinical responsibilities with the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT).
The £59million building was officially opened in 2018 by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Students get to hone their skills with a fully-equipped ambulance cab, realistic hospital wards, an operating theatre and imitation homes.
The department is the only one of its kind where university students train to care for a patient at every stage of their medical experience - from paramedics arriving at their house, to their stay in hospital, through to their discharge and rehabilitation. Coventry University is providing its staff - including cleaners, facilities managers, security, catering, and technicians - to help support the training activities.
Some academic staff will also be on hand to offer support with the training sessions, which will be led by Clinical Education Fellows from Warwick Hospital.
Social distancing can be maintainedvice-chancellor of the university, Professor John Latham CBE, said he is “delighted” at the opportunity to support SWFT.
He added: “We are providing access to our space, simulation equipment and teaching resources where needed. The large building will enable social distancing to be maintained, in line with the Government’s guidance. “We are very keen to support SWFT in as many ways as possible. We work incredibly closely together to develop and prepare large numbers of health care students, many of whom have clinical placements within SWFT.”
Clinical education fellow at Warwick Hospital, Dr Hannah Webber, added: “We are very proud of our final-year medical students stepping up to take on a new role on the wards, providing valuable assistance to the nursing and medical teams.
“Starting such a role during a pandemic is undoubtedly daunting, but their commitment to supporting the NHS at such an unpredictable time has been inspirational.
“We are incredibly grateful to the team at Coventry University for supporting their development, and we look forward to watching them flourish!”
Coventry University has stepped forward to assist the NHS as well as local public health teams in their work to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
Around 50 paramedic students who have previously worked with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) on placements have joined up once again with ambulance staff at the service’s request to help bolster their numbers during the coronavirus outbreak.
The university has also donated vital personal protection equipment including goggles and gloves, to public health officials in Warwickshire to distribute to care workers.