Praise for volunteers stepping up to help NHS in time of need
DETAILS of how people can volunteer to help the NHS in Wales have been released. On Tuesday, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock announced a call for 250,000 volunteers in England and in just 24 hours 400,000 people signed up.
Speaking at the daily press conference inside Number 10 yesterday, the Prime Minister said he wanted to offer a “special thank you to everyone who has now volunteered to help the NHS”.
He added: “When we launched the appeal last night, we hoped to get 250,000 volunteers over a few days. But I can tell you that in just 24 hours, 405,000 people have responded to the call.”
Mr Johnson said the volunteers would be “absolutely crucial” in the fight against the illness, and the number signed up was equivalent to the population of Coventry.
As health is devolved, the scheme is different in Wales.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday morning that councils are co-ordinating efforts for the NHS volunteering in Wales. People can also use the Volunteering Wales website. Specific ways to help with the coronavirus effort can be found by searching “Covid-19”.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Wales to support the NHS, local services and their community during this very difficult time. It is important that people who do volunteer do so safely, without putting themselves of others at risk. People can register on the Volunteering Wales site.”
In England, Mr Hancock said volunteers would help with things like dropping medication off to people in need or driving patients to appointments.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “We are truly amazed by the number of people who want to come and help us in the war against coronavirus.
“I would like to thank every last one of you who are offering your time – you will without a doubt help us to save lives.
“Our NHS needs you – whether it’s by volunteering or simply staying at home – you are helping your families, communities and protecting our NHS.”
Anyone who is over the age of 18, fit and healthy and non-symptomatic can offer their time to the scheme.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens praised the “overwhelming response” to the call for volunteers to help the vulnerable and thanked those who will devote their time to the health service.
He said: “Times like this show just how generous the British people are and how much they value our health service - we are blown away by this response and the kindness of our country.
“I can’t thank those enough who have pledged to devote their time to helping others at what is a challenging and uncertain time for you and your families.
“The NHS is always there for you now is your time to be there for us too.”
Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick called NHS staff “absolute heroes ... working round the clock to support us as a country” and provided more detail on what the volunteers may be doing.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that there would be a variety of jobs available, including parcel delivery and driving.
They may also be asked to drive people to appointments or make regular phone calls to those in isolation, the NHS said.
Mr Jenrick added: “We need to get volunteers into this collective national effort to support the NHS, to support social care, and in particular to support the 1.5 million people who for specific clinical reasons we’re shielding.”
GPs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for at-risk patients through a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service, which will match people who need help with volunteers who live near them.
■ To volunteer in Wales, visit https://volunteering-wales.net/ vk/volunteers/index.htm