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NHS volunteering: how to volunteer to help during the UK coronavirus lockdown, and roles available
The government initially appealed for 250,000 to help the health service out - but more than double that number signed up
By Benjamin Butterworth
Thursday, 26th March 2020, 2:44 pm
Updated
Thursday, 26th March 2020, 2:46 pm
The Health Secretary has asked for volunteers to help the NHS (Photo: Getty)
The Health Secretary has asked for volunteers to help the NHS (Photo: Getty)
The government has raised its target for NHS volunteers from 250,000 to 750,000 after more than half a million people signed up to assist vulnerable groups within two days.
Matt Hancock made the appeal during his live press conference on Tuesday, which also included the announcement that an exhibition centre in London would be converted into a new NHS hospital.
The Health Secretary said people in good health are needed to assist with the national effort to tackle coronavirus by shopping, delivering medicines and supporting those who are shielding themselves against Covid-19.
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He said more than 35,000 extra staff had already joined up to help fight against the virus, including retired doctors and nurses returning to the service and final year students.
By Thursday morning, 560,000 had answered Mr Hancock's appeal by signing up to the scheme, and the Prime Minister's official spokesman said it would continue to stay open. He said: "We want people to continue to volunteer and if we can reach a number of 750,000 then that would be fantastic."
Boris Johnson had used his address to the nation on Wednesday evening - when the figure stood at around 405,000 - to pay tribute to the volunteers.
He said: "To all of you, and to all the former NHS staff who are coming back now into the service I say thank you on behalf of the entire country."
Who is being asked to join?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement on Tuesday (Photo: 10 Downing Street)
Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement on Tuesday (Photo: 10 Downing Street)
People in good health are being asked to join the national effort to ensure vulnerable people can stay safe and well at home and to support local services.
What are volunteers being asked to do?
The NHS will struggle under the weight of coronavirus cases (Photo: Getty)
The NHS will struggle under the weight of coronavirus cases (Photo: Getty)
As many as 1.5 million vulnerable people across England have been instructed to "shield" themselves from society to ensure they do not get the virus.
The volunteers will help ensure these people have vital supplies such as food and medicines. They may also be asked to drive people to appointments or make regular phone calls to those in isolation.
What volunteer roles are available?
There are five types of assistance the NHS is requesting:
Community Response volunteer: This role involves collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home.
Patient Transport volunteer: This role supports the NHS by providing transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensuring that they are settled safely back in to their home.
NHS Transport volunteer: This role involves transporting equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites, it may also involve assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.
Check-in and Chat volunteer: This role provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation.
What about local schemes already in place?
These people are not intended to replace local schemes already set up to help the vulnerable, but to provide additional assistance to the NHS.
How will we know who needs help?
The NHS is facing the biggest challenge since its foundation in 1948 according to a senior health official (Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty)
The NHS is facing the biggest challenge since its foundation in 1948 according to a senior health official (Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty)
GPs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for their at-risk patients via a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service.
They will match people who need help with volunteers who live near to them as part of the scheme.
How can they join?
Members of the public can sign up at goodsamapp.org/NHS
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