Medical students offer free babysitting to NHS staff

A group of Glasgow University medical students – whose work placements have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak – are volunteering to help doctors and nurses with domestic tasks.

In a Facebook post, one said: “There are a lot of medical students with not a lot to do, and one of them came up with the idea of connecting healthcare staff who might need babysitters/petsitters/grocery shoppers etc.”

The student stated that with schools and nurseries set to shut, they will have the time on their hands to offer help and free services where they can.

The student added: “We’ve been asked not to come to placement under any circumstances and thus felt that this would be a good way to support the NHS where we can.”

Frontline NHS staff can email hsssqueries@hotmail.com if they would like to request support.

Meanwhile, residents in a Glasgow community are tackling the coronavirus outbreak by posting leaflets to every home offering help to neighbours.

Volunteers are printing and delivering the document to 88 streets across Jordanhill, Broomhill and Hyndland.

The forms offer to assist those self-isolating by collecting shopping, posting mail or even a “friendly phone call”.

The Jordanhill Watch community Facebook page, which has 3000 members, stated: “The purpose is to offer support to those who may require it in whatever manner that may be over the coming days, weeks and months.”