COVID-19: The Impact on Medical Students in the UK

By: Jun-Li Tham, Manchester University Medical Student

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the world like a storm. Everyone’s lives have been affected by this unprecedented event. As a medical student myself, there are some aspects of the pandemic that mean it is has had a greater impact on us than for individuals studying other subjects. I think some of these are worth highlighting, both to bring awareness to certain critical issues, and also to facilitate discussion of them.

University teaching

As the disease started rearing its head, we were advised to practice self-quarantine if symptomatic and to be aware of proper personal protection with hand-washing and protective equipment. However, this soon changed as the case trajectory skyrocketed, and more drastic measures needed to be taken. All clinical placements and assessments were canceled at short notice.

This has a significant impact on learning for medical students. Most other courses had their assignments and lecture teaching migrated onto online platforms. Effective distant-learning, unfortunately, is not feasible nor reasonable for clinical teaching. Medical students learn by experience, be it observation, practice or bedside teaching. Lectures are by no means a substitute for firsthand clinical exposure on the wards. This means that learning has effectively come to a halt. Electives have always been a highly anticipated event for medical students, where we get to travel to almost any part of the world to experience a different perspective on how the healthcare systems can be run. For obvious reasons, this has been removed as well, leaving many students disappointed at the loss of a semi-holiday abroad, their flight ticket costs, and an opportunity to broaden their horizons.

Additionally, canceling assessments poses several other problems. The majority of medical schools have decided to pass their students without further exams. But what will happen to those who have failed assessments and are currently preparing for re-sits, especially final year students who are about to qualify? My medical school has decided to take these on a case-by-case basis to determine their progression, introducing an extra degree of subjectivity to their choices.

While these points may not be of significance to many people, the topic that is much more widely discussed is regarding tuition fees. Medical courses already charge an exorbitant amount compared to other courses, and as a consequence of these cancellations, we have lost almost half a semester of learning content. Students have been signing petitions and voicing their opinion to the relevant teams. As of now, medical schools have yet to confirm their stance on this matter.

Volunteering and interim posts

As a final year student myself, we have been particularly keen to help out the health services in these tough times. We feel equipped with the skills and competencies to carry out tasks at the level expected of a Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor since most of us would have had completed our final exams at this point.

On the flip side, there are several issues to consider. Firstly, the degree of supervision. Even at FY1 level, doctors should be adequately supervised by a senior. It goes without saying that the hospitals are currently extremely busy, so it may pose difficulty to arrange this. Yes, we do want to lend a hand, but we also want to avoid causing more harm than good.

On top of that, the other concern is regarding the availability of personal protective equipment. These are in scarce supply due to an overwhelming demand by both the public and the health sector. Indeed we probably won’t be allocated roles at high risk of exposure to the virus (e.g. intubation, swabbing, etc.) but the need for bare minimum protection cannot be understated. If we were undertaking tasks that may put ourselves in harm’s way, we want adequate protection to help minimize these risks.

In lieu of a national statement to recruit final year students into the workforce as interim FY1 doctors, universities are in the process of formulating an official stance regarding this matter. The option of volunteering, however, may be done in various capacities, both within the NHS and other healthcare organizations.

Emotional support

This pandemic has undeniably caused a lot of distress. So far, the unemployment rate has risen, the economy has taken a downturn and holidays have been canceled. On top of all these issues, we are stuck indoors most of the time. Social distancing and home quarantine can take a toll on the emotional state of people. Many students are living away from home and may be more inclined to stay where they currently are, in fear of further perpetuating the virus, especially to their loved ones. The boredom from staying indoors aside, students may feel isolated if they are living alone.

My university has been somewhat proactive in addressing this and opted to arrange weekly Zoom sessions where students get to chat and stay in touch with one another. Students are encouraged to share their experiences and tips in keeping themselves well. I feel like this can be a good idea as just simply seeing a familiar face and catching up on recent events can make one feel a lot better.

I also feel like this is a good time to catch up on any personal interests or commitments that would otherwise be limited during term time. It is true that while many options require going outside, there is also a lot you can do at home. Pursuits, like learning a new language, trying out new cooking recipes, and attending online courses, are all examples of these. It is also a good idea to stay active with a simple exercise routine.

Additionally, anxiety from watching the daily spikes in the number of cases doesn’t help the situation. In this era of telecommunications, we must be wary of fake news and only visit credible sources of information, such as the official Public Health England website which shows daily updates of the latest figures, as well as measures and advice on how to combat the disease.

In conclusion, I feel like these are the current hot topics for medical students surrounding the current circumstances, based on my personal experiences and feedback from some close friends. Do try to follow national guidance and advice, stay safe and healthy. I am sure we will eventually win the battle, and this will all be over. Keep calm and stay at home!

Jun-Li Tham is a final year medical student at Manchester University and also a medical education question writer for Medibuddy.

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