A MEDICAL student from Reading is graduating from university today four months early to help NHS staff on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.

Shamus Butt, 25, will graduate from the University of Bristol as a medical doctor today (Friday, April 3) in a virtual ceremony held on video calling app Zoom.

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Mr Butt explained his whole year group, faculty and vice chancellor will be attending, before the newly qualified doctors are recruited to help battle the coronavirus on the front line.

He revealed his cohort sat their final exams in December last year and were ready to qualify in March having completed work-based assessments in either a hospital or with GP surgeries.

Students were supposed to complete eight weeks of clinical or non clinical placements in areas they want to specialise in but due to the outbreak of the pandemic and need for doctors to help, these have been scrapped.

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This means Mr Butt can graduate early but he explained helping out is voluntary.

He said: “I think everyone is a little nervous to be starting early but I think we are all quite keen to support the NHS and our colleagues.”

Mr Butt revealed he is not yet sure where he will be working but said he will be doing routine hospital work so that senior doctors can help treat coronavirus patients.

He will continue helping until he commences his foundation year in August.

Mr Butt explained it is a “shame not to have a proper ceremony as of yet” but revealed there will be an official ceremony held at the university, later this year.