WREXHAM’s MP has spoken about returning to her healthcare roots to ease pressure on local NHS services.
The Leader previously reported that Sarah Atherton, who was elected as Wrexham’s first Conservative MP in December, responded to the call made by UK Government for former healthcare staff to volunteer their time and re-join healthcare workers on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus where possible.
Prior to her role in politics, Mrs Atherton trained as a nurse at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital and at Bangor University making progress to become a district nurse. She also worked as a social worker in North Wales, specialising in older people and mental health.
Today, on May 13, a spokesperson from Sarah Atherton’s office said: “Like many former healthcare professionals, Sarah signed up to the COVID Temp Register to offer her hand at dealing with the coronavirus outbreak.
“She is now undergoing ‘back to the floor’ training at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where she did her initial nursing training, long before entering politics.”
The spokesman adds that Mrs Atherton is joined by a group of hardworking, resilient and selfless former nurses and clinicians, and is “immensely proud to be part of the national effort”.
In March, Mrs Atherton told the Leader: “These are unprecedented times and, as a member of the Wrexham community, I want to do what I can.
“As a nurse, who a few years ago completed my return to nursing practice and with my currency in social work, these are skills I have volunteered to help alleviate some of the pressures on our hardworking frontline staff.”
The Conservative MP said that, wherever she was needed, she would offer a couple of days a week as a volunteer to the NHS and complete any of her Constituency and Parliamentary work on the other days.