AYRSHIRE student nurses and midwives will support the NHS on the frontline against coronavirus.

Around 1,200 University West of Scotland students who are in their second and third years of study at UWS Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire, and Paisley campuses, as well as some fourth year Applied Biomedical Science, have volunteered to work in hospitals across the country.

They will put their clinical skills into practice as they aim to help the NHS respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Monday the UWS students will be offering support to NHS boards across Scotland including Ayrshire and Arran, as well as some independent care providers.

Some students will support care homes and facilities outwith hospital environments.

The announcement comes following an open letter last week from Carolyn McDonald, chief allied health professions officer, which called on students to “agree to become part of your local health and social care workforce”.

UWS is Scotland’s largest provider of nursing and midwifery education in Scotland, with all four of its Scottish campuses equipped with state-of-the art clinical skills, simulation, facilities, replicating hospital, primary care and domestic environments.

Julie Edgar, Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences at UWS, said: “Each and every one of our students should feel incredibly proud of themselves and know that UWS is here to support them every step of the way.”

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