So would you volunteer?!

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Hi all just putting this question put there. I work for a very large NHS community trust. My role is a nurse specialist working with people with long term chronic diseases (mainly COPD and heart failure). We've had an email asking for volunteers to carry out the testing for Coronavirus for at home.

On one hand I would like to contribute to this but don't want to risk myself and then other patients I see (these are the most at risk category).

All training and protective wear would be given (obviously). My question is though would you volunteer?

No because you work with vulnerable people. Also would it be in addition to your normal hours or take away from your usual role?

Well, you’d actually be safer inside a Hazmat suit doing testing in the community, than doing your regular day job in a hospital or clinic unprotected!

I'd do it.

They are the ones at risk ,not you
You are probably more at risk catching the virus while you are out and about

@Glittercandle Taken away from our normal role I presume.

Aside from the obvious horror of people getting sick and potentially dying it's very fascinating (I've nursed for 25 years) and I wouldn't mind being part of a team involved but can't help feel asking nurses who treat the most poorly isn't the best of ideas. But then who else will do it?

I am an AHP student and would be happy to do testing- I think it is a swab?
As I suspect you don't need to be a fully quaified nurse I suspect students could be a good place to ask for volunteers. This would free up specialised nursing staff to be able to do the jobs that you are qualified for which most people can't do.

@quiteathome Our Trust are asking for "experienced community clinicians" to take part in the testing process. They haven't said by which means yet. Waiting for further updates after today meetings.

They won't release people in vital roles- they'll repurpose people in less critical/time sensitive roles. There will be people whose regular clinics dry up, I would think.

I did not realise they wanted experienced clinicians.

I think your skills will be vital elsewhere though. As it is a respiratory illness

I am a community midwife. If I was asked to do it, I of course would. However I absolutely adore my job and would prefer to continue doing that if given the choice! I do however suspect that community midwifery may well be scaled back should things escalate like in Italy so I expect to either be asked to work in the hospital or to help with testing. But we shall see! I will go with the flow anyway.