91视频网 supports NHS response
Students and staff from across the 91视频网 have been lending their skills and resources to support the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
Over 120 nursing and midwifery students have started their final placements early to help bolster the NHS workforce. They are being employed as healthcare workers by NHS Highland and NHS Western Isles to contribute to the COVID-19 response. The university has also set up secondment arrangements with the NHS so that nursing and midwifery staff can work in clinical posts too.
Perth College 91视频网, Argyll College 91视频网, North Highland College 91视频网, Lews Castle College 91视频网 in Stornoway, SAMS 91视频网 in Oban and the NAFC Marine Centre 91视频网 in Shetland have donated equipment including gloves, hand sanitiser and aprons to healthcare providers across the region. Chemicals from the university鈥檚 School of Health, Social Care and Life Science have been gifted to the NHS to help with coronavirus testing.
Several university partners have been supporting the production of visors. Perth College 91视频网鈥檚 creative industries department created a design for 3D printers and West Highland College 91视频网 and Argyll College 91视频网 have donated acetate sheets which are used to create visors. Colleagues at Lews Castle College 91视频网, Inverness College 91视频网, Moray College 91视频网 and the NAFC Marine Centre 91视频网 have being helping to produce visors using 3D printers.
Staff from the Highland Health Sciences Library at the Centre for Health Science in Inverness, meanwhile, have been contributing to efforts to gather and present the latest coronavirus information to assist NHS Highland鈥檚 public health department to plan and deal with the pandemic. The library has also been supporting pandemic work nationally and globally, including working with the World Health Organisation.
The university partnership has also offered vehicles, buildings, services and accommodation to support key workers across the Highlands and Islands. This includes facilities and equipment at the Centre for Health Science, vehicles from Argyll College 91视频网 and residences at Moray College 91视频网 in Elgin. As well as offering vehicles, North Highland College 91视频网 has pledged drivers and logistics support for the NHS and government. Inverness College 91视频网 is in discussions with Highland Council about opening up its Early Learning and Childcare Centre to provide childcare for essential workers.
Inverness College 91视频网 has opened up one of its car parks at Inverness Campus to support the UK Government in its efforts to increase testing for NHS and other key workers. A drive through coronavirus testing facility will open in the college鈥檚 car park three on Inverness Campus on Sunday 26 April, operating on an appointment only basis. It will be piloted for its first few days of operation.
Professor Crichton Lang, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the 91视频网, said:
鈥淚n addition to supporting our students and staff across the university partnership to continue their studies and day to day work, we are of course keen to do all that we can to help with the management of the wider impact of the current COVID-19 epidemic on people鈥檚 lives. I have huge appreciation for the efforts of all who are contributing, but especially to those students and staff who are engaging at the frontline of health and social care.鈥�
Heidi May, NHS Highland鈥檚 Board Nurse Director, said:
鈥淲e are extraordinarily grateful to the students coming to work alongside their NHS colleagues in caring for patients as part of the COVID19 effort. Their skills and their knowledge will help us make the difference for patients and their loved ones during this unprecedented time.鈥�
Gillian Macsween, a student nurse at the department of nursing鈥檚 Western Isles campus, said:
鈥淲hile this has been a very overwhelming and trying time for all of those working on the frontline, as a student nurse, I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to apply my learning and contribute my practical skills towards supporting the COVID-19 effort.
Student nurse employment has successfully alleviated staffing pressures and workload demands; it is wonderful to be of aid to fellow NHS colleagues. This exposure to the very real-life challenges of healthcare, I believe, will stand me in good stead for my forthcoming transition from senior student nurse to newly graduated staff nurse and beyond.鈥�