NEARLY 15,000 student nurses, midwives and medical students are poised to join frontline NHS teams to help fight coronavirus.

More than 12,000 second and final year nursing and midwifery students and 2,213 medical students have enrolled to provide care and support during the pandemic, with the first of those enrolled already taking up roles on the front line.

Last week, The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals  welcomed an addition of 40 third year student doctors and nurses to help in the fight against coronavirus.
This week, the hospitals were joined by six aspirant nurses in their Emergency Department

This incredible influx of students boosting the workforce follows a plea from senior nurses for medics-in-training to join the increasing ranks of staff helping the public to stay well.

Students will work in hospitals and other healthcare settings across England, matching their skills to meet staff needs in their local area

The newcomers will join more than 15,000 retired medics who recently left the health and care service but are returning to the fold to provide their services and knowledge.

Volunteer members of the public are also stepping up by delivering medicines and driving patients to and from hospitals, amongst other things.

NHS Chief Executive, Simon Stevens said: "Across the country nearly 15,000 student nurses and midwives and medical students are stepping up to serve in the fight against coronavirus. They will work alongside our brilliant current staff and the thousands of dedicated former colleagues who have answered the call to come out of retirement.

"These students are beginning their careers as the NHS faces the greatest global health challenge in the history of the health service. Their commitment to the NHS and all it stands for is a great as that of any previous generation, and the whole country will be both grateful and proud."

NHS medical director, Professor Stephen Powis, added: "The coronavirus pandemic is the great healthcare challenge in the history of the NHS and to have our ranks of expert staff boosted with tomorrow’s generation of lifesavers is an important gain for patients and NHS staff alike."