A MEDICAL student is one of more than 130 people to have signed up to help an NHS trust during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rachel Gunnell, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, volunteered as a runner at James Cook University Hospital, in Stockton.

The 23-year-old decided to sign up after her face-to-face lectures were cancelled as a result of the virus.

She said: "For me volunteering fulfils that sense of duty I have as a medical student who is going to be working in the NHS for the long hall.

“Volunteering as a runner is a very different experience to what I’m used to, because I’m used to being on the ward but I’m really enjoying learning more about how the porting side of things works. It’s amazing to see everyone at The James Cook University Hospital pulling together and working as one big team.”

A total of 138 people have signed up through South Tees Hospital's therapeutic support programme and have been providing support to patients and staff.

Debi McKeown, lead nurse for therapeutic support, said: “We will forever be thankful to the volunteers for their support in these challenging times.

“Their commitment to supporting patients is commendable and we are very lucky to have them helping our therapeutic care.”