Campaign wins hearts and minds across Holyrood
HOLYROOD’s main political parties have backed the Daily Mail’s campaign to recruit an army of NHs volunteers.
With hundreds of scots signing up, the sNP and the Conservatives have both praised the campaign.
It has also won the backing of the Liberal Democrats.
scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said the campaign is ‘timely and vital’ and will help doctors and nurses get on with the job they are paid to do.
Health secretary Jeane Freeman also praised volunteers as an ‘integral part of the fabric of scotland’s NHs’; while Lib Dem health spokesman Alex ColeHamilton said they can help ‘ease the strain’ on staff this winter.
Writing in today’s Mail, Mr Briggs says the ‘brilliant’ campaign is a great way to mark the 70th anniversary of the NHs. He adds: ‘We all can do our bit to help our medical staff get on with the job they are trained to do. And that is what volunteering can do.’
He says volunteers can help ensure patients have ‘somebody to talk to, or somebody simply on hand to help’, pointing out you don’t need a medical degree to help people cope and get better.
Mr Briggs writes: ‘I would reject the argument of the cynics who criticise volunteering as a way of getting public services on the cheap.
‘For once, let’s put the cynicism aside. Not just because volunteers don’t take work away from paid staff. Nor because they allow those paid staff to get on with their jobs all the better. It’s because the work volunteers do – supporting patients, offering a listening ear, being a companion – contributes to the healthcare effort of the NHs itself.
‘Volunteers may not be medically qualified but don’t for a minute think they’re not part of the medical wellbeing of our country. They are. I would urge everybody who can to get involved.’
Miss Freeman said: ‘Volunteers have long been an integral part of the fabric
‘Volunteering is a way to give back’
of scotland’s NHs and make an enormous contribution to the wellbeing of patients and their families. We can’t thank them enough for their efforts.
‘As well as volunteering with the NHs through the recognised routes in each board, people can visit Volunteer scotland’s website for a range of opportunities that help support people’s health and wellbeing outside hospitals too.’
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: ‘For people who are recuperating in hospital this winter or unable to easily get out and about, the value of a visitor or a friendly conversation can’t be overstated.
‘We are all so lucky to be able to get on with our daily lives safe in the knowledge that the NHs is there to help us and our loved ones when times get tough. Volunteering is a way we can give back and ease the strain on NHs staff over the tough winter months.’
The cross-party backing came after the Royal College of Nursing and Unison agreed that volunteers have a vital role to play in supporting staff – and patients – in hospital and the wider community.
Unison, alongside other trade unions, is working with the charity Helpforce to draw up a special agreement on the role of volunteers within the health service. This follows their growing presence in the NHs, currently around 78,000, which the Christmas appeal hopes significantly to increase.
The ‘memorandum of understanding’ is being created to clarify the relationship between staff and those who offer their time free.
Health bosses hope the charter will allay any concerns that volunteers are undermining the work of salaried and trained employees.