Up to 75,000 NHS volunteers start coronavirus duty to help 2.5m most vulnerable

AN army of 750,000 NHS volunteers have today reported for coronavirus duty to help the 2.5million people most at risk during the pandemic.

The “National Help Service” will be helping those forced to self-isolate in Britain during the coronavirus outbreak..

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Tasks will include delivering vital prescriptions, driving patients to key medical appointments and having chats with lonely folk.

Officials had initially planned to recruit 250,000 healthy helpers after launching the scheme to assist 1.4million Brits forced to self-isolate.

But after being overwhelmed by demand, 750,000 were recruited to assist 2.5million people at highest risk from coronavirus.

Hundreds of proud volunteers took to social media this morning to reveal they were joining the army.

NHS ARMY

Gary Millard posed wearing a homemade cape and said: "My First day as a NHS volunteer I am ready to go when ever they call on me to do what ever I can do to help are fantastic NHS heroes."

Paul Milburn added: "First shift volunteering for the NHS. Delivering test kits around the borough, hope all goes to plan with this very important initiative."

Amy from Dudley said: "I am officially an NHS volunteer responder. There are loads of people near me doing the same as well!

"Catch me collecting prescriptions and checking on the elderly."

Darren Mason posted: "My first day as a NHS volunteer responder #NHS #NotAllHeroesWearCapes #DoingMyPart."

Lee Robinson added: "I'm up and running as an NHS Volunteer Responder, ready to collect and deliver medication and essentials to vulnerable members of my local community."

I am officially an NHS volunteer responder. Catch me collecting prescriptions and checking on the elderly.

Amy from Dudley

A man called Richard said: "I am a local responder for the sick, elderly and vulnerable or self-isolating during the covid 19 crisis woohoo!

"I'm part of the 750,000 strong volunteer force in the UK working alongside the NHS Government and council teams to help and assist people in our local communities."

The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, also joined the huge group of volunteers supporting the nation’s most vulnerable.

Camilla has just come out of self-isolation after Prince Charles, 71, had the virus.

She began her work calling vulnerable elderly people on the phone and had a “check in and chat” with 85-year-old Doris Winfield.

The pair discussed their mutual love of reading and the difficulties of being stuck indoors.

They will be offered tasks from today via the GoodSAM app.

Health professionals, pharmacists and councils can upload requests for help, with volunteers picking local jobs they can do.

Helpers show themselves as available when their app is switched to “on duty”.

NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “The number of people who came forward to help some of the most vulnerable in their communities is truly extraordinar