An army of 750,000 volunteers are reporting for duty for the first time today to help the NHS in its fight against coronavirus.
The NHS Volunteer Service received three times the amount of applications they had hoped for in the largest call for volunteers since the Second World War.
Applications had to be halted while officials ran checks on the three quarters of a million Britons who signed up to help.
But today they will be given their first jobs, which range from calling the elderly and vulnerable in isolation to driving patients to hospital.
Volunteers can ‘report for duty’ to say they are available to help on the GoodSAM app, which alerts them when there is a job to do in their area.
Many took proudly to social media to say they are ready for their first tasks.
Many of the 750,000 NHS volunteers took proudly to social media to say they are ready for their first tasks today
A woman called Amy from Dudley tweeted: ‘I am officially an NHS volunteer responder. There are loads of people near me doing the same as well! Catch me collecting prescriptions and checking on the elderly.’
Lee Robinson said: ‘I’m up and running as an NHS Volunteer Responder, ready to collect and deliver medication and essentials to vulnerable members of my local community.’
A man called Richard shared a screen shot of his GoodSAM app and said: ‘I am a local responder for the sick, elderly and vulnerable or self-isolating during the covid 19 crisis woohoo!
‘I’m part of the 750,000 strong volunteer force in the UK working alongside the NHS Government and council teams to help and assist people in our local communities.’
Darren Mason posted: ‘My first day as a NHS volunteer responder #NHS #NotAllHeroesWearCapes #DoingMyPart.’
An example of how the GoodSAM app works to allow people to be connected to vulnerable people in their area
Volunteers will be delivering medicines from pharmacies, driving patients to appointments, bringing them home from hospital, making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home, and transporting medical supplies and equipment for the NHS
Celebrities Rita Ora and Love Island star Alexandra Crane have also signed up.
Rita’s mother Vera Sahatciu, 55, has returned to her job as a psychiatrist to help the NHS with those struggling mentally during the pandemic. The 29-year-old’s singer Elena, 31, has also offered to volunteer.
Due to the huge response, NHS officials claim the volunteer force will come to the aid of 2.5million at-risk people in the coming weeks.
Volunteers will be delivering medicines from pharmacies, driving patients to appointments, bringing them home from hospital, making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home, and transporting medical supplies and equipment for the NHS.
Health professionals, pharmacists and local authorities can upload requests for help on the NHS Volunteer Responders referrer’s portal, and volunteers pick the job they want to do that day and close the task once complete.
The NHS is using the GoodSAM app, which is usually used by regular NHS volunteers.
Initial tasks will start buzzing on smart phones nationwide today with more expected over the coming weeks as referrals ramp up.
Health professionals (Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust tweet pictured), pharmacists and local authorities can upload requests for help on the NHS Volunteer Responders referrer’s portal, and volunteers pick the job they want to do that day and close the task once complete
The Duchess of Cornwall, president of the Royal Voluntary Service, has thanked the 750,000 people who have volunteered to help and revealed she is one of them.
The Duchess, 72, tested negative for coronavirus, but isolated for 14 days after her husband Charles contracted the Covid-19 illness.
Camilla said: ‘As the proud president of the Royal Voluntary Service, I wanted to send my warmest thanks to all the NHS Volunteer Responders who have come forward in unprecedented numbers to offer help to the NHS.
‘Royal Voluntary Service has been working with the NHS to recruit people in England who can assist those who are most in need of practical and emotional support at this time.
‘Thankfully, the charity has a long and remarkable history of bringing willing volunteers together with the isolated and lonely. That experience is needed more than ever in these challenging times.
‘And today many more NHS Volunteer Responders will get in touch with the people they have so kindly offered to help.
Celebrities Rita Ora (pictured with her mother Vera Sahatciu who has returned to work as a psychiatrist with the NHS) and Love Island star Alexandra Crane have also signed up
Rita’s mother Vera Sahatciu, 55, has returned to her previous role in a bid to help those struggling with their mental health during these difficult times
‘Everyone working in the NHS is under unimaginable pressure day and night in this crisis.
‘I feel sure that the presence of so many wonderful volunteers will encourage, as well as support, them. I salute each one of you – and thank you with all my heart.’
NHS England said Camilla made a ‘check in and chat’ call with Doris Winfield, 85, from Rickmansworth, who has spent the last two weeks self-isolating.
While Ms Winfield has three daughters who she regularly speaks to, she lives alone and misses her friends and the active social life she used to enjoy.
She said the chat with Camilla ‘meant the world to me’, adding: ‘I’ve been incredibly lonely over the last couple of weeks and it was wonderful to talk to her.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has signed up as a volunteer after her own coronavirus scare. She is checking in on Doris Winfield, 85, from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire
‘We talked about life in isolation and shared hobbies, she was very interested in my family and how I was coping without them. It’s really cheered me up.’
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘The number of people who came forward to help some of the most vulnerable in their communities is truly extraordinary.
‘Today we begin to see the results of these tremendous acts of goodwill from the British public, with volunteers offering support to those who need it most.’
‘Tackling this unprecedented coronavirus challenge means all of us to pulling together, so on behalf of the NHS, thank you to everyone who is playing their part.’
