Over 150 medical students volunteered to help in hospitals, GPs and hospices as well as providing babysitting services for NHS staff
19th November 2020
Submitted by Gary Neill, Sheffield Medical Society
Sheffield Medical Society is the largest society at the University of Sheffield and represents over 1500 medical students. We act as the student's voice and support the academic, welfare, social and sports needs of medical students during their time living and studying at Sheffield.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we felt it was our responsibility to step up and play our part during this national crisis. Our incredible Welfare team created the ‘South Yorkshire Medical Student Volunteer Scheme,’ one of the largest volunteering efforts during the pandemic in the county. At the heart of this effort, was our Welfare Rep, Leah Lam, and her deputy, Lucy Pinder. They created the scheme, and both have worked tirelessly to coordinate the whole program. Our President, Hasnain Khan, oversaw the scheme and demonstrated brilliant leadership throughout.
MedSoc felt it was our responsibility to play our part in this crisis and to help those most vulnerable in our society by working alongside our NHS colleagues. Due to the success of the volunteering scheme, Hasnain, Leah and Lucy have had appearances on BBC Look North (TV), BBC Radio Sheffield, TRAX FM, Hallam FM, BMA ‘The Doctor’ Magazine and videos on the University of Sheffield Facebook page that had over 22,000 views. I have attached video recordings and articles on the MedSoc Volunteer Scheme, our nomination for the Neil Rackham Foundation Award and a video on volunteering in the community created by the University of Sheffield below.
These public appearances helped the volunteer scheme reach out further into the public eye and direct more NHS trusts and staff members in need of help and support to our cause. We have received many humbling messages from NHS staff members who were grateful to receive babysitting support, allowing them to deal with the extra demand placed on hospital wards during the peak of the pandemic. Hasnain, Lucy and Leah have done an amazing job with the volunteering scheme and have helped make a significant difference during a very difficult time.
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