The business case \u2013 in terms of the impact of volunteers on the NHS and wider healthcare system \u2013 we feel has been made.2<\/sup> The NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (NHSCVR) programme \u2013 first launched during the pandemic \u2013 has continuously proved its effectiveness, from driving system efficiencies to better patient care, workforce recruitment, and staff morale. For system leaders and frontline staff that embed NHSCVR within their local delivery there are big gains to be had.<\/p>\n For those unfamiliar with NHSCVR, this programme is a unique partnership between a charity (Royal Voluntary Service), a public service (NHSE) and a tech company (GoodSAM). It can match, via an App in real-time, requests for support from staff or patients with members of the public that can lend a hand. The programme is a key auxiliary service supporting the NHS and patients to expedite patient discharge, provide practical support to patients at home, deliver equipment for virtual wards, and provide support to ambulance crews waiting outside A&E. It is a free resource for local areas, is NHS approved, and can provide a critical safety net to mobilise volunteers at scale at times of high demand on the system.<\/p>\n In the past four years the programme has achieved significant scale; more than 2.6 million activities have been delivered in support of patients and the NHS, 221,000 individuals have been supported, and over 1 million members of the public responded. And while these numbers are indeed impressive, on the ground in local areas the programme delivers significant benefits for the system, staff, and patients \u2013 see table below.<\/p>\n The data also finds that those who volunteer report higher wellbeing. In a 2021 study by the London School of Economics, those that volunteered experienced statistically significant higher wellbeing compared to those who did not volunteer, and this wellbeing impact lasted for at least 3 months.6<\/sup><\/p>\n This article is a call to all NHS system leaders; the breadth of impact \u2013 from this programme \u2013 plus others (see Helpforce) surely warrant the immediate integration of volunteers in NHS \u2018BAU\u2019, and centre stage in our reimagining of the NHS over the next 10 years.<\/p>\n Royal Voluntary Service will be attending the Integrated Care Delivery Forum in London on the 5th November<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n For more information or to connect with a member of our team, please reach out to your Regional Relationship Manager. Contact details are available at nhscarevolunteerresponders.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n 1<\/sup> NHSCVR baseline survey, n=8481)<\/p>\n 2<\/sup> See King\u2019s Fund 2018 Views from the Frontline, Helpforce, 2020, Volunteer Innovators Programme<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/integratedcarejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Table-1.png\")
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