Brighton nursing students join Lourdes pilgrimage to support people with complex needs
Students will deliver hands-on care as part of a new international placement blending healthcare with compassion and faith
Seven nursing students from the University of Brighton will travel to Lourdes this July to support people with serious health needs during one of the UK’s largest faith-based pilgrimages.
They will accompany the Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton’s annual trip to the famous pilgrimage site in southwest France, which draws millions of visitors each year seeking healing and hope.
Students will provide round-the-clock care to around 700 pilgrims, many of whom are elderly, frail or disabled. Their duties will include medical support, personal care and emotional reassurance.
This marks the university’s first year offering the placement, part of a wider drive to expand clinical training beyond traditional hospital settings. Students will clock up over 100 hours through hands-on care and preparation sessions.
Third-year student Sally Hao said: “This isn’t just a placement — it’s a shared journey of resilience and compassion.”
The experience will also help meet students’ professional practice requirements while offering a unique insight into holistic, patient-centred care in a deeply personal and international setting.