Heroic lecturers return to frontline
Eleven university staff volunteer to help during Covid-19 crisis
Eleven clinically-trained staff from the University of Stirling have volunteered to return to frontline healthcare duties to support the Covid-19 pandemic response.
Nine nurses and two paramedics from the university have offered to bolster the
NHS and Scottish Ambulance Service over the coming weeks – and are set to join the 396 Stirling students who have volunteered to undertake paid work within hospitals to support the national effort.
The staff – all from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport – have been supported in their decision by the university and, if called upon, will return to clinical practice on secondment.
The nurses who have volunteered to return to practice include Dr Carol Bugge, Dr Dawn Cameron, Gwen Drysdale, Alison Hackett, Ela Hamer, Dr Louise Hoyle, Gwenne McIntosh and Fiona Smith, while the paramedics returning to duty are Christopher Aitchison and Dr David Fitzpatrick.
Professor Jayne Donaldson, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has posed a monumental challenge to healthcare systems across the world.
“I know our entire university community will join me in thanking our staff and students for their phenomenal response – and wish them all the best as they join the frontline. Their response will make a real difference and play an important role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of patients.”
NHS Forth Valley director of nursing Professor Angela Wallace said: “We really appreciate the support of local university staff and it’s great to see so many individuals volunteering to return to the frontline to work alongside their NHS colleagues at this challenging time.”
MSPs have praised the response of university staff and students.
In a motion tabled at Holyrood, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane Keith Brown MSP asked Parliament to recognise the Stirling nurses’ “commitment to serving their communities and their dedication to tackle the biggest challenge that people have faced in their lifetimes”.
He added they were an “inspiring example of the dedication and public service shown by NHS workers across Scotland” and would “make a significant contribution to nationwide efforts with NHS colleagues”.
Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford echoed those words in a second motion – expressing gratitude to all of those on the frontline across NHS Forth Valley, including those volunteers from the university – and Dean Lockhart MSP in a third.