The UK Health Departments, the GMC and the Medical Schools Council have issued new guidance meaning more students can volunteer and work to respond to this unprecedented health emergency.

For common questions about your MDU membership and the latest guidance and advice, you can find more information on our coronavirus hub page.

Here’s how medical students can support the effort.

I am a medical student and want to help during the coronavirus outbreak. What can I do?

Medical students are able to volunteer in the NHS if they’re willing and able to do so. As a medical student, you may be able to help carry out duties that don’t require registration, for example working as healthcare assistants. Final year medical students have been able to register with the GMC earlier than usual to allow them to begin their FY1 year.

The GMC advises that arrangements for volunteering should be made locally. You must be supervised to be safe and act within your competence. You must not be asked to carry out any duties of a doctor.

I am a medical student and would like to work as an FY1 doctor to assist with the coronavirus outbreak. What can I do?

The GMC has confirmed that early provisional registration of final year medical students, can take place once they have graduated and early full registration of suitable foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors.

The key principles and factors worth considering:

It will be for these graduates and doctors to decide if they wish to contribute in this way and opt in.
The safety of these doctors will be paramount. They should be given induction, provided with full necessary personal protection equipment and the training to use it, appropriately supervised, and not asked to work beyond their competence.
Employers working with medical schools and statutory education bodies will determine how these individuals can best be deployed to support front line colleagues.

How medical students can help during the coronavirus outbreak