STATE-of-the-art beds, mobile hospital screens, trolleys, syringes, stethoscopes and much more from the University of Worcester has been delivered to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital as it tackles the Covid-19 pandemic.
The University offered all of the vital up-to-date equipment at its clinical simulation site to the trust to help establish additional intensive care beds to deal with the expected influx of Covid-19 patients.
It is one of a number of measures the University, its staff and students, are taking to assist in any way they can in the current international health crisis.
Professor David Green CBE, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “Our clinically qualified staff are volunteering to work back on the front line and our nurses, midwives and paramedics who are near the end of their courses are joining the NHS under the new national arrangements.
“Many others are volunteering to become healthcare assistants and help also in local care homes and with the new NHS volunteers scheme. Science, skills and community spirit are needed to meet this crisis and save as many lives as possible.
“I am very proud of the role the University’s thousands of health graduates, students and staff are playing at this time of crisis.”
Dr Julian Berlet, Consultant Anaesthetist and Divisional Director at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are very grateful to the University of Worcester for the additional equipment, and to Lambs Removals for generously arranging for it to be delivered so quickly. The kit – which includes beds, trolleys, monitors, defibrillators, drip stands, privacy screens, gloves and masks – is vital as we continue to ensure our hospitals are prepared to care for increased numbers of patients we are expecting over the coming weeks. We are also looking forward to welcoming the 3rd year nursing and health professions students, as well as many of the University’s health staff, who will be joining us as we work together during this unprecedented situation.”
The University of Worcester trains hundreds of students every year to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Health and Social Care.
Working with other universities and the NHS, the University has also been making arrangements to enable Nursing, Midwifery and other students on healthcare courses, to go into practice to assist in the crisis, with continued support from University staff. Further work is also happening to allow students to work in a wide range of other professional capacities, to assist nursing homes and other providers of essential services for vulnerable people.
Meanwhile, many of the University’s health staff, who are registered professionals, have volunteered to be seconded to the NHS.
The University is also enabling many staff in its School of Science and Environment, who have also volunteered to go to work in science laboratories, helping with vital work in testing and analysis to reduce any capacity constraints.
