Coronavirus: People across South volunteer in scheme to help NHS

Volunteers from across the South have been asked to come forward to support the NHS.

As of Wednesday evening, 405,000 people from across the UK, have agreed to help the national effort.

It follows the launch of the Government's scheme to find 250,000 volunteers to work for the NHS during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust have also launched an appeal for more staff to help with its efforts to care for patients.

The recruitment campaign is looking for "an army of full time and flexible staff" to help fill a range of key worker roles during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Trust runs physical and mental health services throughout Oxfordshire, including Abingdon, Didcot and Henley.

Oxford Health’s chief nurse, Marie Crofts, said the coronavirus is having a "big impact" on staffing levels, as staff are self-isolating and are needing to look after their own families.

She said: "We want them to stay safe, but we have a growing mountain of work to do in caring for the communities we serve."

Credit: PA Images

The recruitment campaign is appealing to people who may have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The appeal said people could "quickly find yourself a new role" and join the teams to "help us to keep caring."

Credit: David Cliff/PA Images

Full training and equipment will be provided for new recruits and DBSchecks may be required.

Weekly or monthly pay is available for flexible workers.

What are the roles the Oxford Trust is looking for?

There are seven main areas the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is looking to seek for:

  • Healthcare support workers and community support workers: People who provide invaluable help for nursing teams.

  • Driver receptionists: People who help clinical teams get to patients quickly.

  • Admin workers: This offers a range of opportunities for anyone with Microsoft skills.

  • Housekeeping team members: People who can help keep things clean, tidy and hygienic.

  • Pharmacy stores assistants: People to help teams ensure patients get their medication.

  • Property Maintenance Operatives: people to keep the estates in Warneford, Littlemore and community hospitals running.

  • Any registered nurses and mental health nurses are also being asked to make contact.

How do you sign up?

  • Call: Staffing Solutions hotline on 07769 934843 (weekdays 9am to 5pm)

  • Email: careers@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

  • Visit: www.careers.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk for more details

People from across the Meridian region have signed up to be volunteers for the NHS during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Rebecca Catchpowle is a self-employed community carer from Havant.

She signed up to be a volunteer, so those most at risk can continue to be looked after.

  • Rebecca Catchpowle, self-employed community carer, Havant

Meanwhile, a woman from Eastbourne has set up a telephone service for the elderly.

Helen Burton will use the interaction to help befriend older people who might be lonely.

This plan is similar to the one formulated by the NHS, where volunteers will provide 'check in chat', to help vulnerable people in isolation.

Credit: Yui Mok/PA Images

A trainee counsellor from Hampshire has also signed up as a volunteer.

Amy Sutton from Odiham is going to help the NHS effort, by driving to people's homes if they need things delivered and they are in a vulnerable position.

Students from across the region are also keen to be involved.

Ben Burgess from Southampton said: "Anything you can do to help in your spare time to keep you going and to help other people out, it's a good feeling."

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know