Camilla joins 750,000-strong army of ‘National Help Service’ volunteers working to support the most vulnerable
CAMILLA has joined the 750,000-strong army of “National Help Service” volunteers supporting the nation’s most vulnerable.
Today the volunteers start aiding 2.5 million Brits forced to self-isolate 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.
The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, 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.
Mum-of-three Mrs Winfield, of Rickmansworth, Herts, has been self-isolating for the past fortnight.
She said: “Having a chat with the Duchess of Cornwall meant the world to me. 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 is president of the Royal Voluntary Service, which has helped to organise the new NHS Volunteer Responders force.
She expressed her “warmest thanks to all the responders who have come forward in unprecedented numbers to offer help to the NHS”.
I’ve been incredibly lonely over the last couple of weeks and it was wonderful to talk to the Duchess.
Doris Winfield
She added: “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.”
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.
By the end of today, the charity will have completed checks for all of the three-quarters of a million helpers. They will be offered tasks from today via the GoodSAM app.
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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 extraordinary.”
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