20 October 2022

Aptly named the ‘COVID Cohort’, more than 40 healthcare graduates have celebrated their achievements during a special event at Ascot racecourse.

The graduates have recently completed their two or three-year degree courses for careers in a range of roles. They include allied health professionals, midwives, nurses, nursing associates and operating department practitioners.

The evening celebration took place at the Pavilion lounge in Ascot, with each student presented with  a certificate and commemorative badge to mark their graduation. Chief of Nursing and Midwifery Lorna Wilkinson spoke about the “unprecedented pressure” the graduates had faced and their “fantastic achievement of qualifying for a career in health in the middle of a global pandemic”.

Many of the students had their first Frimley Health placement in April 2020, at the height of COVID, and also had their university education disrupted by having to switch to online learning and completing practical training in simulation suites. All the graduates, who have divided their time between university learning and on-the-job placements, have chosen to take up permanent roles within the Trust and have either started their positions or will be in post during the next few weeks. 

Chloe Hill, pictured with Lorna Wilkinson, recently completed a two-year course to become a staff nurse in theatres at Heatherwood, having previously been an assistant theatre practitioner. She said: “Heatherwood has a real community feel and has become a home away from home for me. I live in Oxfordshire but still choose to commute to Ascot to work for Frimley Health as it’s such a great team.”

Director of clinical education Pippa Skippage said: “We are so proud of how our students have risen to the challenge of studying during the COVID pandemic. We are also incredibly grateful to all the trainers, educators and mentors who have guided them throughout their journey. The support from the education team has been exceptional.”