Almost 25,000 students in healthcare professions opt to join COVID-19 fight

 Almost 25,000 student doctors, nurses and midwives have now opted to join their NHS colleagues in tackling the coronavirus.

Nearly 19,500 third-year student nurses and midwives have asked to take up paid placements on the NHS frontline, while 3,000 medical students have chosen to graduate early, freeing them up to start work over the next weeks and months instead of in August. 

A further 2,200 medical students who are yet to graduate have volunteered to help the  COVID-19 effort in a variety of ways. 

Professor Wendy Reid, acting Chief Executive, Health Education England, said: “This amazing response at the most challenging of times demonstrates the calibre and commitment of our students - although it is important to stress that the decision will be different for everyone, and involvement is purely voluntary.”

Professor Mark Radford, Chief Nurse, HEE, added:  “The whole nation can be grateful to these inspiring students who are determined to do their utmost.”

The junior doctors and student nurses and midwives are being deployed in hospitals up and down the country.