STUDENT paramedics have pledged their help as emergency responders at Glasgow’s new Louisa Jordan hospital as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

First, second and third-year students from Glasgow Caledonian University, which runs the country’s only dedicated course for paramedics, will join teams on Monday

Around 70 per cent – 95 students on the BSc Paramedic Science programme - are to help out.

The third-year students will be based at the new NHS Louisa Jordan makeshift hospital at the Glasgow SEC site on the banks of the River Clyde, which will eventually be able to hold around 1,000 COVID-19 patients, after initially opening with capacity for 300 later this month.

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A total of 32 first-year and 35 second-year students are being employed as ambulance care assistants and 28 third-year students are being taken on as ambulance technicians.

Samantha Paterson, BSc Paramedic Science Programme Lead, said: “We are very proud that 70 per cent of our students across all years are going into employment with the Scottish Ambulance Service to assist transport provision at the NHS Louisa Jordan site from next week.

“We work very closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service and much of the training is very hands-on so they are well prepared for the workplace.

“For all the students, it has been a massive upheaval for them and a rapid rate of change, so thank you to all of them for their patience and bearing with us.

“A message for those students going into employment is just ‘stay safe, learn lots and we will see you in September or when you qualify’.

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Pauline Howie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said: “We are very thankful for the student paramedics offering their support in these challenging times.

“This is an unprecedented situation and the support we have received right across the country has been amazing. If we all work together we can manage the impact of this virus in Scotland.”

Students received induction training from the Scottish Ambulance Service on local policies and procedures, particularly in relation to COVID-19, to help prepare them for their new roles.