Care, compassion and community — One student doctor’s experience of the vaccine roll out

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student sitting at desk wearing a mask
Student Doctor Ellis Keddie

When the pandemic first hit, Student Doctor Ellis had to cut his study break short and return to the UK from Australia. Since then, he has found different ways, first as a Healthcare Assistant in London and now as part of the vaccine roll out, to support the NHS through COVID.

Being a student doctor at Liverpool has opened up a lot of opportunities during the pandemic. I think with the precedent set by the previous final year medics of being the first students to step up and help out in their droves in the first wave, the medical community in Liverpool has seen the value of students and how they can help the pandemic cause.

This has led to hundreds of student doctors, across all years, helping out in various different capacities and roles.

We're all working towards one greater goal of caring for the Liverpool community.

I believe a big reason for this is that our course gives lots of clinical and community contact from the start of Year 2, which has allowed the school and its students to become trusted in the community.

The most enjoyable part is being able to have conversations with and to see and hear the gratitude of our elderly population. Many have told me that getting their vaccine is the first time that they have left the house since March 2020.

I think the vaccination programme has been great in building back a community feel and has encouraged a lot of spontaneous conversations between care givers and patients about the difficulties people have been experiencing - which in itself is very therapeutic.

Being a student doctor during COVID has reaffirmed the importance and value of the career path we have set out on.

Many things about 2020 (and 2021) have been uncontrollable, frightening and downright rubbish!

But being able to see first-hand staff across the NHS, including student doctors, stepping up and tempering the storm with hard work and lots of kindness has been inspiring.

Ellis in turn has inspired others, demonstrating the very kindness he admires. GP Dr Simon Tobin took to Twitter to praise Ellis for his compassion and composure when comforting a grieving patient whil administering the vaccine.

Student doctors supporting vaccine rollout

Student doctors from Years 3 to 5 currently have the option of taking on additional hours outside of their normal NHS training hours. The School and NHS partners are working together to ensure they can do so safely and efficiently. If you are a student taking part and would like to share your story, get in touch with mednews@liverpool.ac.uk.