More than 170,000 people have signed up to be NHS volunteers to help the UK tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The news was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock this morning.
In a Twitter post, he said: “We’re delighted that overnight 170,000 people have signed up to volunteer to support our NHS tackling #coronavirus.”
NEWS: We’re delighted that overnight 170,000 people have signed up to volunteer to support our NHS tackling #coronavirus. Join here: https://t.co/gtYR6xW0jE #StayHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/Nq1oPZfsZm
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) March 25, 2020
Mr Hancock sent out a plea early on Tuesday evening for 250,000 “people in good health” to join the NHS to support the country’s most vulnerable.
He said: “We are seeking a quarter of a million volunteers, people in good health to help the NHS, for shopping, for the delivery of medicines and to support those who are shielding to protect their own health.”
Volunteers will officially be called ‘NHS Voluntary Responders’.
As well as delivering essential supplies to those self-isolating, they will transport healthy patients home from hospitals and call those at risk of loneliness while social distancing.
Extra medical staff will also be deployed to fight the virus, including 11,788 returning doctors, nurses and pharmacists, 5,500 final-year medical students and 18,700 student nurses.
“I pay tribute to each and every one of those who is returning to the NHS at its hour of need,” Mr Hancock said.
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