Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has inspired an outpouring of public appreciation for our frontline health workers.
But #ClapForCarers was not just for doctors and nurses. It was also designed to recognise a variety of roles within the healthcare sector, and at Warwick Medical School we have been celebrating the efforts of all our staff, students and alumni who have gone above and beyond to contribute to the Covid response during this very challenging time.
Supporting our medical students
Many of our medical students have supported the NHS and the Covid testing programme throughout the pandemic, with 520 working in our partner hospitals as care support assistants, 450 helping as student vaccinators and 180 volunteering to conduct Covid testing at the University of Warwick campus. In total they’ve cared for more than 10,000 patients and helped over 20,000 students and university staff to be tested.
Supporting them throughout this time has been our medical teaching team, based both at the University and in our partner trusts and primary care. Making it a priority for our students to continue progressing through their degree, they worked tirelessly to move teaching and materials online where possible, with Case Based Learning sessions restarting virtually just two weeks after the first lockdown began.
The team have embraced innovative ways of involving patients during the pandemic, introducing online palliative care sessions with clinicians and simulated patients. These sessions have included live discussions, giving students essential experience without risking the health of any of those involved.
Sharing public health expertise
Public Health experts have been key during the period, with our team at WMS sharing their insights in the media and launching studies into the effects of Covid in both the UK and abroad, including the impact of the pandemic on slum communities.
In Nigeria, one of our Public Health graduates set up a podcast called ‘Coronavirus Logues’, which aimed to dispel public misconceptions about Covid and to educate Nigerians on the need to take responsibility to reduce the spread of the virus.
Clinical trials to support Covid patients
Researchers at our Clinical Trials Unit have been conducting two Covid trials with the aim of enhancing care for those affected. The REGAIN trial is examining the benefits of an exercise programme for people who are still struggling, months after being ill. And RECOVERY-RS aims to identify respiratory strategies for adults hospitalised with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 and ultimately provide a better understanding of the most effective treatment interventions.
Look beyond NHS frontline staff and it soon becomes clear that every area of medicine has been crucial in the fight against Covid-19. As jobs in health and medical research become more visible in the public domain than ever before, we’re delighted to be able to offer a wide variety of postgraduate courses at Warwick Medical School to develop your knowledge and help you tackle the health challenges facing the world today.
From Public Health, Medical Education and Health Research to Diabetes, Advanced Clinical Practice and Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, we are proud that our courses are developed with and taught by passionate, expert healthcare professionals. They range from one-day CPD opportunities to full Master’s degrees, so there is something to suit all education needs.
Find out more on our website.
