Civil servants are being encouraged to volunteer in the NHS, as a new centralised recruitment platform goes live.
NHS England has today launched a new recruitment website for NHS volunteers, bringing health volunteering opportunities into one place for the first time.
Health minister Ashley Dalton told CSW that civil servants’ contributions would be “particularly valuable”.
There are more than 77,000 volunteers in the NHS across more than 300 roles. Volunteers boost the experience of patients, while developing new skills, connecting with their local community, and making friends.
Tasks can include spending time with patients, chatting and playing board games, or helping with meal or tea rounds, alongside general admin tasks like collecting medication from the pharmacy for patients waiting to leave hospital.
Other volunteers support ambulance crews to deliver lifesaving first aid, provide chaplaincy services to help patients prepare for surgery, or sit with patients at the end of their life. There are also opportunities in the community, with some volunteers helping people to stay well in their homes by providing support with shopping or companionship calls, or driving patients to their appointments and delivering important medication.
"The brand new NHS volunteering website will make it much easier for people to find meaningful opportunities within the health service,” Dalton said. “With three days of annual volunteering leave available to civil servants, you could join the tens of thousands of volunteers who are helping to deliver compassionate care to millions of people across the country.
"This new platform will help you take your commitment to public service directly into your local community, whether by providing companionship to patients, supporting families through difficult times, or assisting staff with practical tasks.
"Every hour that you volunteer will make a real difference to patients and families when they need it most. Your professionalism and integrity as civil servants means your contribution will be particularly valuable.
“I encourage anyone who is interested in the scheme to sign up as soon as possible and make use of the excellent volunteering opportunities available."
The Department of Health and Social Care said the launch of the platform “directly supports the government's 10 Year Health Plan ambitions to expand community care through volunteer and voluntary sector engagement, supporting the shift from hospital to community care and from treatment to prevention".
To find volunteering opportunities near you, visit this link.