NHS volunteer army: How to sign up to fight the UK's coronavirus outbreak
The Government has launched a new NHS Volunteer Responders scheme looking for 250,000 helpers to help the fight the coronavirus pandemic.
Within a day of its launch, more than 400,000 Brits had signed up to help support the health service over the coming weeks.
Announcing the scheme on Tuesday, March 24, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it would help the NHS and local services support vulnerable people.
He said: "People can come and help and to make sure that the NHS and local services that are needed get all the support that they can."
Here are your questions answered on the NHS Volunteer Army:
Who is being asked to join?
People in good health are being asked to join the national effort to ensure vulnerable people are safe and well at home and to support local services.
How many people are needed?
At least a quarter of a million.
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What are volunteers being asked to do?
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 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.
The National Care Force has also been launched as a platform to connect volunteers to local care homes in need of support.
How will we know who needs help?
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.
How can they join?
Members of the public can sign up at goodsamapp.org/NHS
