THE Hereford Times is making sure NHS staff on the Covid-19 frontline are able to keep up with news about their community while they battle the virus.

We have been delivering a batch of free newspapers to Hereford County Hospital every week.

The reports they contain will, hopefully, have helped those working there see how much their efforts are being appreciated by local people.

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) is urging the Government to reimburse tuition fees for nurses serving on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a major boost for the Hereford Times campaign to win a fair deal for student nurses, the RCN has made fresh calls for all students in England to have their fees covered.

We launched our Support Student Nurses campaign last month in conjunction with sister titles in our publishing group, and with support from healthcare groups, MPs and unions.

So far hundreds of people have signed an online campaign calling on the Government to play fair by student nurses rushed into the frontline to plug the gaps left by a shortage of fully qualified staff.

The RCN, Royal College of Midwives, National Union of Students and Unison wrote to the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock earlier this month but said there has been no response.

They have repeatedly opposed tuition fees but said the Covid-19 crisis has placed the “unfairness” of the Government’s policy “into even starker focus”.

Some 26,026 student nurses and midwives have opted to take up a paid placement during their degree to help during the pandemic as of May 22, Health Education England figures show.

Mike Adams, RCN director for England, said: “The vital work student nurses have been doing throughout the pandemic has demonstrated the huge contribution nursing undergraduates make to our health and care services – neither they nor future students should have to pay tuition fees to do this.

“The Government must do all it can to ensure that anyone who wants to study to become a nurse is able to do so. No one should feel they can’t become a nurse because they can’t afford it."

A Government spokeswoman said: “We are grateful to all students who choose to support our NHS during this extremely difficult time and we have guaranteed that all students who do opt in to paid placements are rewarded fairly for their hard work.”

Support our campaign by signing the petition, submitted by our Telegraph and Argus sister title, at: https://bit.ly/2yGNYqC

The Hereford Times is also raising money to support health workers on the NHS frontline.

Our Guardian Angels appeal aims to say a very special thank-you.

Local newspapers in the Newsquest Media Group, publisher of the Hereford Times, are joining together to raise money for NHS Charities Together and its urgent Covid-19 appeal.

Donations will be used for wellbeing packs and gifts for staff, food deliveries and refreshments, covering the cost of travel and accommodation and other items which enhance the wellbeing of NHS staff and volunteers.

So far readers have raised more than £17,000. To make a donation visit https://bit.ly/2QKcIEi