Inspiring Business by Sharing Success
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 26 March 2020
UPDATED: 26 March 2020
The number of people volunteering to support the National Health Service during the coronavirus crisis has passed the half a million mark, which is more than double the Government's recruitment target.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced during his daily Covid-19 news conference earlier that 504,303 people had volunteered so far and that they could all have an “absolutely crucial” role to play.
The Government scheme to recruit 250,000 volunteers went live on Tuesday and by Wednesday, the initial target had already been eclipsed.
The new helpers will support the 1.5 million ‘at risk’ individuals across the UK, who have underlying health conditions and have been asked to self-isolate at home for the next three months.
The volunteers will help deliver food and medicines, drive people to appointments and keep in touch with isolated or vulnerable patients.
Around 11,000 former medics have also agreed to return to the NHS, with 24,000 final year student nurses and medics opting to join the service early, to help the fight against the coronavirus.
Mr Johnson said: “To all of you, and all the former NHS staff who are coming back into the service, I say thank you on behalf of the entire country."
On the back of the scheme’s success in England, there are now calls to extend it into Wales.
Steve Megson, Love Business founder and Managing Director of Quiet Storm Solutions, said: “This response is sensational, it shows what the power of positivity can achieve, we’ve all been impacted by this crisis and it’s times like this you unearth people’s true character.
“We live in a GREAT COUNTRY, there is nowhere on this planet more resilient then the UNITED KINGDOM. This NHS ‘call for volunteers' supports my beliefs and faith in our country.
“We’ll get through this crisis and be a stronger, kinder and more connected community as a result of the experience.”