750,000 sign up to NHS 'volunteer army'

More than 750,000 people - three times the original target - signed up to join the "volunteer army", as the country answered the biggest call for volunteers in England since the Second World War.

The Royal Voluntary Service, the charity delivering the volunteer effort, will have completed checks for the three quarters of a million applications by the end of Tuesday.

Due to the huge response, the group of vulnerable people they will support in England has now been expanded and they will come to the aid of 2.5 million at risk people.

Volunteers will be delivering medicines from pharmacies, driving patients to appointments, bringing them home from hospital, making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home, and transporting medical supplies and equipment for the NHS.

Thousands of approved volunteers will be offered tasks from Tuesday via the GoodSAM app and will start helping people, with more expected to get requests over the coming weeks as referrals ramp up.

Health professionals, pharmacists and local authorities can upload requests for help on the NHS Volunteer Responders referrer's portal, and volunteers pick the job they want to do that day and close the task once complete.

Volunteers show themselves as available when their app is switched to "on duty".

The Duchess of Cornwall, president of the Royal Voluntary Service, has thanked the 750,000 people who have volunteered to help, as it was revealed she had made a call to an elderly woman who was self-isolating.

It comes as Camilla was reunited with the Prince of Wales after coming out of self-isolation herself.

The duchess, 72, tested negative for coronavirus, but isolated for 14 days after heir to the throne Charles contracted the Covid-19 illness.

Camilla made a "check in and chat" call with Doris Winfield, 85, from Rickmansworth, who has spent the last two weeks self-isolating.

While Ms Winfield has three daughters who she regularly speaks to, she lives alone and misses her friends and the active social life she used to enjoy.

Clarence House said the duchess and Ms Winfield chatted about a number of different things, including how difficult it was being separated from family, but that being able to see them digitally helped enormously.

Camilla said the most difficult thing about being in isolation was not being able to hug her grandchildren.

They also discussed reading and how much they both enjoyed a good book, particularly Agatha Christie.

Ms Winfield said the chat with Camilla "meant the world to me", adding: "I've been incredibly lonely over the last couple of weeks and it was wonderful to talk to her.

"We talked about life in isolation and shared hobbies, she was very interested in my family and how I was coping without them. It's really cheered me up."

Camilla said: "As the proud president of the Royal Voluntary Service, I wanted to send my warmest thanks to all the NHS Volunteer Responders who have come forward in unprecedented numbers to offer help to the NHS.

"Royal Voluntary Service has been working with the NHS to recruit people in England who can assist those who are most in need of practical and emotional support at this time.

"Thankfully, the charity has a long and remarkable history of bringing willing volunteers together with the isolated and lonely.

"That experience is needed more than ever in these challenging times.

"And today many more NHS Volunteer Responders will get in touch with the people they have so kindly offered to help.

"Everyone working in the NHS is under unimaginable pressure day and night in this crisis.

"I feel sure that the presence of so many wonderful volunteers will encourage, as well as support, them.

"I salute each one of you - and thank you with all my heart."

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 extraordinary.

"Today we begin to see the results of these tremendous acts of goodwill from the British public, with volunteers offering support to those who need it most."

"Tackling this unprecedented coronavirus challenge means all of us to pulling together, so on behalf of the NHS, thank you to everyone who is playing their part."