A Swansea University student is playing a key role in managing supplies of PPE at one of the hospitals hit hardest by the pandemic.
Simon Cardozo, a first-year student enrolled on the Applied Medical Sciences degree course is now Covid-19 PPE Coordinator at KFM, a wholly owned subsidiary of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in South East London.
Nineteen-year-old Simon had previously worked at the hospital during his holidays to earn money and gain experience before being offered this role supporting the supply chain team during the coronavirus crisis
Simon, from South London, said: “I support a team of hard-working people who deliver PPE to all the wards throughout the hospital.
“I help allocate and manage the PPE stock levels and have to record the quantities received by the hospital and the items delivered to individual wards.”
It is a role that sees Simon supporting the provision of PPE to clinical staff.
“It is admirable to see how the clinical staff have had to adapt and adjust their ways of working, not only to deal with the increase in the number of admitted patients but also to ensure that PPE is distributed to wards quickly and efficiently.“
Simon has been in his role since returning to London from Swansea and he has witnessed the remarkable levels of public support for health professionals.
“My colleagues and I have been so humbled and touched to see donations of PPE and other items from local companies as well as from across the UK and internationally.”
Adam Broad, Director of Supply Chain at KFM, said: “The support and assistance that Simon has provided the team throughout this very challenging period has been invaluable. The team and I would like to thank him for all of his hard work over the past few months.”
Simon, who is planning to stay at Swansea to join the Graduate Entry Medicine course after completing his degree, says his experience at King’s has been life changing.
“The Covid-19 situation is helping me learn how a hospital responds to a crisis and also just how important teamwork and organisation are in a time of crisis.”
Professor Lisa Wallace, Applied Medical Sciences programme director, said: “We are so proud of the contributions Simon and many of our Medical School students are making in the fight against COVID-19.
“They are a credit to the Medical School and indeed Swansea University. We look forward to having them back in face to face in lectures as soon as is possible.”
