Paramedic, Occupational and physiotherapy students and staff to work with ambulance teams and NHS care centres across the region
More than 100 University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) students and staff are to provide vital support to front line NHS ambulance and emergency care centre services in the fight against Covid-19.
Paramedic students from the university will be working with North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to provide assistance and urgent support for patients while UCLan academic staff specialising in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Operating Department Practice have begun to work within hospitals and urgent care centres across the region. More are also placing themselves on standby to provide assistance to local NHS services.
UCLan paramedic students will be working for NWAS in a number of key roles, including working within the NHS111 service, taking on positions within Emergency Operations Centres as well as working as emergency care assistants alongside ambulance crews.
Meanwhile former Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Operating Department Practice staff now teaching at UCLan are returning to the NHS in important roles.
These include two UCLan physiotherapy staff who have returned to assist colleagues at Royal Preston Hospital and East Lancashire Hospital Trust at Blackburn. A member of UCLan’s Occupational Therapy teaching team has also now returned to work assisting staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
"We are really proud and supportive of our staff and students that are providing such vital assistance to the NHS at this important time."
Around 40 physiotherapy and occupational therapy final year students have joined the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Emergency Temporary Register, so they may start work as qualified therapists immediately, having successfully completed all their pre-registration clinical competencies.
Teaching staff who have offered their services to the NHS are also committed to the progression and graduation of our students, as we move into the post-Easter assessment period. Staff will continue to support students as they enter practice at this challenging time, providing both pastoral and mentorship support.
Dr Anne Milston, UCLan’s Principal Lecturer and Divisional Lead for the School of Sport and Health Sciences said: “We are really proud and supportive of our staff and students that are providing such vital assistance to the NHS at this important time.
“The skills that are that our physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff can provide will clearly be very valuable and will hopefully make a positive difference to the services available to patients. Rehabilitation starts within ICU and Allied Health Professionals enabling people to recover and return home is vital at this time.
“We’re also pleased that several of our paramedic students will be providing such important support to North West Ambulance Service when the need is clearly at its greatest.”