A PROUD trainee doctor hopes to share her skills with Cumbria – the county where she learned those skills.

The medical student plans to fulfil her career ambition by bringing her skills back to the region once she qualifies as a doctor.

Rachel Tang, a 20-year-old trainee, works two days a week as part of her clinical placement at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven. She was one of the first UK students to enrol on the University of Central Lancashire’s Bachelor Medicine Bachelor Surgery degree and one of two on a fully-funded scholarship programme aimed at people living in the Cumbria and East Lancashire.

The Dr Kate Granger Scholarship was established in memory of a doctor who campaigned for better patient care while suffering from terminal cancer and Rachel was the first recipient of the scholarship.

As part of her clinical placement, she spends two days a week at West Cumberland Hospital, one day at a local GP surgery as well as additional lecture time at the University.

The young trainee said: “There is nothing like learning in a real-life scenario. I’ve been working at the hospital in Whitehaven since September and during that time I’ve learnt so much.

“When I tell patients I’m from Whitehaven it gives people a sense of joy and it makes me feel really proud.”

Professor John Howarth, Deputy Chief Executive at North Cumbria integrated care NHS Trust, said: “It is great to see how well Rachel is doing and how far she has progressed in the past three years and it is also fantastic that she wants to pursue her career here in Cumbria.

“Being able to follow someone on their journey and watch them grow is what we are all about at NCIC.

“We love to grow our own staff and nurture them along the way with the support they need to help them in their role.”