Published: 22 December 2020
Clinical Pharmacology students have been staffing the University’s asymptomatic testing centre, which was set up in advance of the student travel window to offer Covid-19 tests to students travelling over the festive period. Students will also be offered tests at the centre on their return to St George’s in the new year.
Three second year Clinical Pharmacology BSc students, Charlotte, Marie-Therese and Elgin, explain what being involved with the testing centre has been like for them.
Charlotte
Hello! I’m Charlotte, a second year Clinical Pharmacology student, and I have been working in the asymptomatic testing centre at St George’s. The centre is split into two sections: sample processors and results recorders.
Sample processors guide the swab method and carry out the lateral flow test. The job of a results recorder varies from determining the outcome of a test, recording the result on the NHS app, to reporting void tests to the MHRA (the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency).
Having the opportunity to work at the asymptomatic testing centre has allowed me to develop a range of new skills and afforded me a unique experience to help aid the UK’s plan for the safe return of university students.
- Charlotte -
The transition from online video training to hosting the centre for St George’s staff and students felt seamless due to the way the centre has been structured, and the remarkable support from the rest of the staff team. The process has been made incredibly easy for all involved – staff and students.
One thing that we had to make sure we had absolutely right was safety, particularly around PPE and cleanliness. Training and protocols have been essential to the success of this. There are clear and cautious instructions on donning and doffing PPE, and the cleaning procedure at each station ensures there is an effective and universal system. Making everyone feel safe has been of the upmost importance.
Having the opportunity to work at the asymptomatic testing centre has allowed me to develop a range of new skills and afforded me a unique experience to help aid the UK’s plan for the safe return of university students. I am proud of everyone working at the centre and of those doing their part by getting tested!
Charlotte
Marie-Therese
Hey, my name is Marie-Therese and I am a second year Clinical Pharmacology student.
I have had the amazing opportunity to work at the COVID-19 testing centre, gaining some valuable experiences.
The mandatory training which had to be completed before starting on site was long, but it taught me so much about the safety of the patient, the sample and myself. I also learnt the process of the swabbing procedure, which prepared me for the first day when we ran through the procedure thoroughly.
This has been such a great experience and I urge everyone to get tested so that we can overcome this pandemic.
- Marie-Therese -
Working at the testing centre has really showed me how careful we have to be when handling the samples of patients. Firstly, confidentiality is extremely important, so no names are ever passed on, and talking about specific patients is not allowed.
Another thing it has taught me is to treat all samples the same whether they have tested positive or negative for coronavirus. Each sample could carry other bacteria or viruses on it which we didn’t test for, so we dispose of every sample the same way.
Safety has been the most important thing taught to us in my opinion. I have learnt how to properly wear PPE, and how to properly put it on at the ‘donning station’ and off at the ‘doffing station’. I now know the importance of not touching anything other than your sample once you have put all PPE on, the importance of cleaning the stations as we go along, as well as taking extra care when a spillage occurs.
Lastly, I have learnt to use the help of colleagues and to support each other. For example, when the workload at one station is very high, multiple people will come over to that station so we can cope with the workload. We also support each other to ensure that what we are recording is accurate, getting a second opinion on the results of a sample, for example.
This has been such a great experience and I urge everyone to get tested so that we can overcome this pandemic.
Marie-Therese
Elgin
Hi all! I’m Elgin, a second year Clinical Pharmacology student currently working as an off-site member of the asymptomatic COVID-19 testing centre at St George’s, University of London. The role involves supporting the on-site team and fellow off-site members, and organising the centre to facilitate a safe and effective environment.
It’s a privilege to be part of this project. To work together with close friends and colleagues to help our community create this new testing centre encapsulates the Clinical Pharmacology slogan, to be ‘Motivated by Curiosity’.
- Elgin -
This isn’t just work experience, all of us are very much performing a job. It involves a lot of hard work between individuals, coming together as a group, and culminating in a final outcome much greater than the sum of its parts. There is a true sense of community here.
A new day brings a new challenge, a key one was establishing and maintaining effective communication between everyone at the centre to obtain and share data, gain feedback on our performances, and to create a healthy and effective working environment.
It’s a privilege to be part of this project. To work together with close friends and colleagues to help our community create this new testing centre encapsulates the Clinical Pharmacology slogan, to be ‘Motivated by Curiosity’.
Elgin
You can watch video testimonials from other Clinical Pharmacology students on their experience working in St George’s testing centre here.