THE Covid pandemic saved a Swindon student from finding herself in the middle of a war zone.

Saaira Ahmed was studying for a medical degree at the Dnipro Medical Institute of Traditional and Non-Traditional Medicine in Ukraine last year.

But after she returned home for the festive season an increase in the number of cases in the country resulted in the university deciding to take classes online. And it was shut down when Russia invaded.

Now Saaira is desperately trying to find a hospital in the UK where she can complete the 5,500 hours of clinical work experience to qualify to register with the UK’s General Medical Council and finish her UK medical degree.

“I was one of the lucky ones as I came back for Christmas,” she said. “Then, in February we started to hear that a potential war could take place and the UK embassy advised against any travel to Ukraine.”

Swindon Advertiser: One of the hospitals in Dnipro (Photo: Saaria Ahmed)One of the hospitals in Dnipro (Photo: Saaria Ahmed)

 

When she first heard the news that the university had closed, she tried to get in contact with different universities in the UK to see if she could transfer to finish her degree here and was told about the GMC requirement.

So she approached the Great Western Hospital, hopeful that her work as a volunteer since she was 14 would stand her in good stead. But she was told it does not have a service level agreement or funding arrangements with her university.

A disappointed Saaria said: I have supported the local community and hospital staff for 13 years from a very early age in the many different roles I have held. I now want to know how my community, including GWH is going to support me.”

In a statement the hospital said: "We'd love to accommodate her, but since we're not a teaching university, we only really accept student doctors from either the University of Oxford, University of Bristol or King's College London."

The British Medical Association has said that there is currently a shortage of approximately 50,000 doctors in the UK.

A petition has been set up with the aim of getting help for UK citizens and residents who are studying medicine and dentistry in Ukraine to finish their degrees in the UK.

It says: “We kindly request the British Government to assist British students arriving from Ukraine with the safe continuation of our studies, away from a perilous warzone.

“We also kindly request all the British Medical Schools to look at and assess our situation and ask that institutions respond slightly flexibly with their student transfer policies.”

To view the petition, click here.