NHS Volunteer Army - are you one of the 750,000?

[CakeAndPastries]

Hi Has anyone volunteered?

I have and I am marked as on duty in the app but I have had zero alerts or calls at all. Am I doing something wrong? I am very happy to be helping people, so want to make sure I have it all sorted properly.
thanks

Yes. I had an email late last week saying it’s a soft roll out at the moment only releasing 1000 a day. But this will increase, so sit tight.

I signed up with a copy of my DBS but haven’t heard anything. DH signed up without a DBS and has been verified. I thought DBS would have been quicker to be processed!

I have been verified and have been in duty on the app. I can see other volunteers on there but nit been requested to di anything yet.

i just saw this article, so perhaps its starting tomorrow BBC Article

I still have had no alarms or request to help. I'm on the app and 'on duty' - perhaps there is no need for help in SW London? Or am i doing something wrong?

Yes, I only had one call out in 3 weeks. Went to the pharmacy queued up for one hour to be told they didn’t need me it was an error I’m still waiting now

ok well, I guess its a good thing that people have enough support without the volunteers.

I am . But haven’t had any calls yet

How does an individual access help without asking their overworked GP or pharmacist to refer them?

@CakeAndPastries in practice there is little to no support for those of us shielding. And we don’t have any way of accessing your services without going through a GP/pharmacist etc. (all of whom have got too much on their plate already).

Thanks have been active on the app for a week now and have had no calls either
I'm in Durham

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3876440-Volunteer-army-services-for-people-shielding

I signed and was accepted. Still waiting for any calls. App is on all the time.

That seems to be most volunteers’ experience @Toomboom. Such a shame when so many of us need help but can’t link in with you directly.

Sadly I think this is a bit of a white elephant.

Egghead68 that is a real shame if that's the case. We're all here wanting to help anyone in need. I hope you are ok and someone is helping you.

This whole thing was always a massive distraction project by the government. The NHS already has more volunteers than it can manage.

Agree @WearyandBleary. Plus some publicity for the software platform.

I'm approved and I am switched to "on duty" on the app but not needed so far.
Have any other volunteers had a request yet?

No alerts yet here either.

I’ve been redeployed and had to make calls to people being shielded. All very appreciative and in my case all had family or neighbours shopping for them, but we were being asked to direct them to an NHS website if the situation changed and they now needed help. Most of them did not use the internet, which I would have thought was pretty predictable. Think government are desperate for good stats. X volunteers, Y% of the shielded contacted. Z pieces of PPE in the system. Actual useful things, maybe less so.

That’s good @partystress. I’m shielding and would really appreciate a call. I hope they do this in my area.

P.S. @Partystress are you an NHS volunteer or a redeployed council worker doing this as your job though?

Egghead68 no chance you are in NE Scotland is there?

West Sussex and no calls here either. Such a shame as I'm sure there are people who'd like a call or even just to know there is someone out there.

Egghead council, but I think NHS admin people are also making calls. I think the website address is in the letter you should have got telling you you must stay in, so you could go ahead and register yourself now.