The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our Health and Social Care workforce throughout the UK and Ireland.

Recognising this, Senior Medical students from Queen’s University have been assisting clinical staff with the care of patients on the wards and in the community COVID-19 centres across Northern Ireland as part of a joint initiative with the Health and Social Care Trusts.

A total of 120 medical students have been undertaking these voluntary roles in a part time capacity, with duties including taking blood samples, performing electrocardiogram (ECG) tests and helping to complete the various tasks to allow timely and effective discharge of patients.

Hear from our medical students who have been volunteering on the frontline

Speaking about the project, Professor Karen Morrison, Dean of Education in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences said: 

 ‘It has been so affirming to see our students volunteering with care delivery on the frontline in the NHS in recent weeks. Their willingness to engage in support work, alongside studying for their exams, has been greatly appreciated by the clinical teams. Our NHS will be in great hands in the future.‘

The volunteering roles include: 

Medical Student Technicians
In this role, our students will assist clinical staff with the care of patients on the wards and in the various community COVID centres across Northern Ireland. Some of the duties the students will be undertaking will include taking blood samples and performing Electrocardiogram (ECG) tests, note taking and helping complete tasks to allow the timely and effective discharge of patients.  

A total of 120 of Queen’s senior medical students have volunteered for this role and are currently undergoing induction or commencing their first few days in health and social care services throughout Northern Ireland. 

Clinical Support Assistants
Our volunteer students in these roles will be helping to provide safe, effective, and compassionate person-centred care to patients, helping them in all aspects of their daily life.  

Undergraduate Pharmacy Support students 
Our Pharmacy students will be supporting the work of pharmacists in both the hospital-setting and in community pharmacies across Northern Ireland.