The NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (NHSCVR) programme was first launched in March 2020 by NHS England to support and protect those individuals who were \u2018shielding\u2019 because of clinical vulnerabilities to Covid-19. The programme proved to be a critical auxiliary service adding vital capacity for staff and patients. Today the programme aims to support integrated care systems (ICSs) alongside other voluntary sector provision to improve efficiency, patient care and add capacity. It is free of charge, making it an accessible resource for healthcare teams and patients seeking additional support.<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s healthcare landscape, collaboration across sector partnerships is essential to delivering high quality care. NHSCVR exemplifies partnership working between a public service, a charity with a social enterprise (GoodSAM digital app) and citizens. To date over 40,000+ vetted volunteers across England have made themselves available to be deployed in real-time \u2013 via the GoodSAM app – to support the needs of local healthcare systems.<\/p>\n
Volunteers provide emotional (e.g. welfare calls) and practical support (e.g. grocery\/prescription deliveries) to help people stay well and independent. In addition, volunteers play a crucial role in supporting healthcare teams with, for example, quicker discharges and virtual ward assistance through the Pick Up and Deliver service.<\/p>\n
Since the programme was relaunched last year, Royal Voluntary Service, with GoodSAM, has been working in partnership with several Trusts, ICSs, and local volunteers to embed and pilot various volunteer activities.<\/p>\n
We showcase two below.<\/p>\n
The service supports Barnsley Hospital’s Discharge Unit, Virtual Wards, and Haematology Departments. This supports individuals being discharged from the hospital by transporting medication to their homes and enables patients to return home earlier, rather than them waiting for their prescriptions to be ready.<\/p>\n