To think that nobody is going to want to volunteer to help the NHS

[Cinammoncake]

With coronavirus Government saying this morning on the radio that they'll ask people to volunteer if necessary. People have been saying for years the NHS is underfunded. And who are all these people free to work for nothing. I think the Government is deluded to think there will be volunteers for this.

Lots of people already volunteer in under funded services, including the NHS. Many more would probably help out if there is a need. I would.

I would volunteer as well.

Well you are both heroes then in my eyes I think the NHS should pay people if they want and need extra help.

I have just left the NHS due to ill health. and I will NOT be going back. I am 50 with health conditions. I cannot manage it and I am not putting me or my family at uneccesary risk.

We have loads of volunteers in the hospital where I work. They have a really vital role.

There’s also a youth volunteer programme for college students.

They make such a difference to patients as they have time to sit and talk, read a book, do a puzzle etc, which employed staff rarely have the time for.

They also run the shop, bring the shop trolly around the wards, bring the hot drinks trolley around for the staff and show patients a visitors where to go.

Sounds like you’d be surprised just how many people freely give their time to help.

Even with the threat of coronavirus they are all still there freely giving their time.

So long as I'm given proper training and PPE I would absolutely volunteer. The NHS is struggling, and given how much debt me and my family would be in if I were American (even with insurance!) giving a few hours of my time to help is the least I can do.

I think you're right caterpillarsruletheworld But then, why shouldn't people get paid for these jobs? I think it's taking advantage tbh.

No retired health professional is going to come out of retirement though, especially if they are getting a comfortable pension. Also the people who volunteer are normally older and therefore more at risk.

I used to volunteer in the NHS. I very much enjoyed it and would still do it if I hadn't needed to go into paid employment again.

However there was constant pressure on me from NHS bosses to recruit more volunteers. When I suggested that they could come back and volunteer after retirement, they laughed in my face.

The work I did as a volunteer was a job I had been paid for previously but had been made redundant due to funding cuts. I did it because I loved it and service users still needed the service, but it left a bitter taste when the bosses were so dismissive.

I am an NHS volunteer. I see it as a hobby that I enjoy that happens to do a bit of good for people. Money isn't the only reward in life. I will happily do more if it helps during the outbreak. I certainly don't think I'm being taken advantage of - I get more than I give. Maybe give it a try, you might like it.

They treated me appallingly and still owe me wages. No fucking chance.

No retired health professional is going to come out of retirement though, especially if they are getting a comfortable pension. Also the people who volunteer are normally older and therefore more at risk.

When there was panic about Swine flu, my grandfather, a retired GP was contacted by DoH and asked to complete a fit to practice assessment specifically relating to diagnosing and treating swine flu. It did not appear optional!

there was mention on the Today prog of Care Homes being short staffed due to c virus. I suppose in an emergency i would help at a local one. And people like to feel useful/ needed so i can see people volunteering for hospitals. i imagine all routine work would be cancelled.

Lots of volunteering in the nhs first responders for the ambulance service are trained volunteers the people who take magazine snack trolleys around wards volunteers, patient transport volunteers, list goes on, sometimes it isn't about financial reimbursment so yes I think you will get people volunteering into the nhs to help with caronavirus.

People already volunteer in the NHS, but it's not a particularly sensible idea to assume this will continue or suffice if the coronavirus worsens.

Have relatives both HCP. One might be able to volunteer but the other would be vulnerable (not generally) if got virus so not practical.

It seemed like the government were expecting new/additional volunteers marchdaffs so not just those kind souls already doing it

Because I'm fairly civic-minded I'd have given it some serious thought in a national emergency, but the NHS haven't bothered to even acknowledge the vast majority of applications I've made for actual paid work in the last seven years, so they can fuck themselves if they think I'm going to help them now.

There would have to be a balance and ethical considerations re age. If the risk profile remains the same then encouraging lots of retirees to volunteer doesn’t seem ethical. Promoting student volunteering might be better though (young so less at risk, less likely to have children).

My parents for example are likely to be at a high risk of serious complications or death. There is no way I’d want them volunteering. Where they could perhaps be more useful is volunteering to keep other Non-Heath functions going. There could be an impact on all sorts of services and infrastructure-ccgritical jobs.

The thing is volunteers are limited in what they are allowed to do.
They aren't allowed to do a lot of the things we will need doing when we are short of staff. No obs, washing, feeding, medications, dressings, you name it.
They can make drinks, but have to ask who's allowed what, who can do what etc, we've had volunteers in our care home and while some are really good, all seem really nice. They take away from my time with patients and doing jobs they can't do. We are run off our feet and don't have time to constantly check and give direction.

Promoting student volunteering might be better though (young so less at risk, less likely to have children)

Perhaps they could offer to write off some student debt in return? Given how screwed over our young people have been in terms of the cost of living, low wages, high house prices and student loans, I don't see why we should expect them to work for the NHS for free too.

I think the point of volunteering is essentially altruistic so I don't quite understand your point of view. No-one is being expected to work for free, the point is people choose to do so.

People volunteer to be doctors or nurses in war zones, leper colonies, orphanages in Ebola hotspots. Some people are just incredibly amazing and selfless people.

I personally am dreadful around sick people and don't think I would be very useful even if I was paid megabucks to be there.

I think the point of volunteering is essentially altruistic so I don't quite understand your point of view

I'm saying that if coronavirus takes hold, I don't think a load of new people are going to suddenly want (or should be expected) to volunteer for the NHS. I don't think the government should be relying on this as a strategy.