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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/04/nhs-collapse-without-them-growing-role-volunteers
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| 'The NHS would collapse without them': the growing role of volunteers | 'The NHS would collapse without them': the growing role of volunteers |
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| “I saw one gentleman about 18 months ago, only on one occasion. About a year later, he saw me in a shop and said I was the little lady – I’m 4ft 10in – who had listened to him in the doctor’s surgery. He said it had changed his life.” | “I saw one gentleman about 18 months ago, only on one occasion. About a year later, he saw me in a shop and said I was the little lady – I’m 4ft 10in – who had listened to him in the doctor’s surgery. He said it had changed his life.” |
| Pauline Nixon, the woman in question, is not a doctor, a nurse or any other NHS professional. She is one of two volunteers who give up their time to talk with patients at a GP practice in Lancashire, discussing everything from dealing with bereavement or the stress of caring for a loved one to being diagnosed with cancer. “People often can’t talk to relatives or friends because they don’t want to upset them, and GPs only have 10 minutes,” she says. | Pauline Nixon, the woman in question, is not a doctor, a nurse or any other NHS professional. She is one of two volunteers who give up their time to talk with patients at a GP practice in Lancashire, discussing everything from dealing with bereavement or the stress of caring for a loved one to being diagnosed with cancer. “People often can’t talk to relatives or friends because they don’t want to upset them, and GPs only have 10 minutes,” she says. |
| This listening service is one of a battalion of volunteer-run services without which the NHS might struggle to survive, and on which it has relied since its foundation. Nixon is one of millions of volunteers who provide invaluable support for hard-pressed NHS services. | This listening service is one of a battalion of volunteer-run services without which the NHS might struggle to survive, and on which it has relied since its foundation. Nixon is one of millions of volunteers who provide invaluable support for hard-pressed NHS services. |
| “The whole thing would collapse without [volunteers]. I saw how much good they could do,” says former barrister Kate Lampard, who in 2015 was asked by the government to report on managing volunteers in hospitals in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. | “The whole thing would collapse without [volunteers]. I saw how much good they could do,” says former barrister Kate Lampard, who in 2015 was asked by the government to report on managing volunteers in hospitals in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. |
| Volunteers are now often an integral part of patient care, but Lampard points out the wider social benefits too. Some people come into the NHS as volunteers and, after training, go on to take paid jobs in the service. Having suitable volunteers takes some of the pressure off NHS staff. And many people with mental health issues who may not be able to work in a paid capacity find a useful, active role as a volunteer, benefiting themselves, the NHS and wider society. | Volunteers are now often an integral part of patient care, but Lampard points out the wider social benefits too. Some people come into the NHS as volunteers and, after training, go on to take paid jobs in the service. Having suitable volunteers takes some of the pressure off NHS staff. And many people with mental health issues who may not be able to work in a paid capacity find a useful, active role as a volunteer, benefiting themselves, the NHS and wider society. |
| Citizens Advice estimates that about a fifth of a GP’s time is spent on problems that have non-medical causes, such as personal relationship problems, housing and unemployment concerns or work-related issues. Many of these can be addressed through advice and support provided by volunteers. | Citizens Advice estimates that about a fifth of a GP’s time is spent on problems that have non-medical causes, such as personal relationship problems, housing and unemployment concerns or work-related issues. Many of these can be addressed through advice and support provided by volunteers. |
| But it is vital to ensure that volunteers are properly plugged into the health service. “The circle is completely magic as long as volunteers are properly managed,” says Lampard. She recalls that in one hospital she visited, 400 volunteers were being managed by a single, part-time staff member who had no contact with senior managers – and no effective safeguarding training. | But it is vital to ensure that volunteers are properly plugged into the health service. “The circle is completely magic as long as volunteers are properly managed,” says Lampard. She recalls that in one hospital she visited, 400 volunteers were being managed by a single, part-time staff member who had no contact with senior managers – and no effective safeguarding training. |
| No one knows how many volunteers there are in the NHS. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates there are 3 million in health and care, while a 2016 British Social Attitudes survey said there were about 1.7 million. A report this year on volunteers in general practice by David Buck, a fellow at the King’s Fund thinktank, found a “surprising lack of knowledge” about the role and contribution of volunteers in the NHS, despite a long history of volunteering. | No one knows how many volunteers there are in the NHS. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates there are 3 million in health and care, while a 2016 British Social Attitudes survey said there were about 1.7 million. A report this year on volunteers in general practice by David Buck, a fellow at the King’s Fund thinktank, found a “surprising lack of knowledge” about the role and contribution of volunteers in the NHS, despite a long history of volunteering. |
| The Royal Voluntary Service is part of that history. It was set up in 1938, 10 years before the birth of the NHS, as the Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions. Eighty years on, the RVS chief executive, Catherine Johnstone, says about 5,000 of the charity’s 25,000 volunteers provide support in hospitals, including in well-established roles, such as helping with patient transport and providing ward trolley services. | The Royal Voluntary Service is part of that history. It was set up in 1938, 10 years before the birth of the NHS, as the Women’s Voluntary Services for Air Raid Precautions. Eighty years on, the RVS chief executive, Catherine Johnstone, says about 5,000 of the charity’s 25,000 volunteers provide support in hospitals, including in well-established roles, such as helping with patient transport and providing ward trolley services. |
| Volunteers’ role in the NHS is expanding, according to Johnstone. “Take mobilising patients,” she says. “If you’re working on rehabilitation for older people, we know there is a big issue with people signed fit for discharge but having to wait on a ward while a social care package is organised. The NHS staff team will have worked really hard to get that person to that point where they can go home. It’s a frustrating wait and there are not enough resources because the clinical team will have moved on.” | Volunteers’ role in the NHS is expanding, according to Johnstone. “Take mobilising patients,” she says. “If you’re working on rehabilitation for older people, we know there is a big issue with people signed fit for discharge but having to wait on a ward while a social care package is organised. The NHS staff team will have worked really hard to get that person to that point where they can go home. It’s a frustrating wait and there are not enough resources because the clinical team will have moved on.” |
| Volunteers can work with clinical staff to keep people fit for discharge by encouraging someone to get out of bed to eat lunch or teaching chair-based exercise. | Volunteers can work with clinical staff to keep people fit for discharge by encouraging someone to get out of bed to eat lunch or teaching chair-based exercise. |
| “That’s where there is quite significant training,” says Johnstone. “Volunteers have to be trained to a level that’s acceptable to clinical staff.” The RVS is working with clinicians and hospital trust boards to win them over. “We don’t want volunteers to be seen as a burden or yet another thing to manage,” she says. | “That’s where there is quite significant training,” says Johnstone. “Volunteers have to be trained to a level that’s acceptable to clinical staff.” The RVS is working with clinicians and hospital trust boards to win them over. “We don’t want volunteers to be seen as a burden or yet another thing to manage,” she says. |
| It is also partnering HelpForce, a national initiative set up in 2017 to integrate volunteers with NHS services and ease pinch points in patients’ progress through the healthcare system, from the queue at a hospital reception or delays in discharge caused by lack of transport to making someone available to collect prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy, as well as mobility support on wards, which is being piloted in Southampton. | It is also partnering HelpForce, a national initiative set up in 2017 to integrate volunteers with NHS services and ease pinch points in patients’ progress through the healthcare system, from the queue at a hospital reception or delays in discharge caused by lack of transport to making someone available to collect prescriptions from the hospital pharmacy, as well as mobility support on wards, which is being piloted in Southampton. |
| Outside hospitals, volunteers help people get to flu clinics, greet patients at surgeries and help them register or fill out paperwork. They also offer assistance to patients recently discharged from hospital. | Outside hospitals, volunteers help people get to flu clinics, greet patients at surgeries and help them register or fill out paperwork. They also offer assistance to patients recently discharged from hospital. |
| The King’s Fund report includes 10 case studies, including volunteers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who talk to carers to help them find support networks, and those in Brighton and Hove and Christchurch who direct patients to local non-clinical services and organisations offering art activities, exercise classes and healthy eating advice. | The King’s Fund report includes 10 case studies, including volunteers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who talk to carers to help them find support networks, and those in Brighton and Hove and Christchurch who direct patients to local non-clinical services and organisations offering art activities, exercise classes and healthy eating advice. |
| Buck says all the practices included in his report were clear about the need to manage and support volunteers. “Volunteers are not a substitute or saviour for the NHS; they largely provide additional support, which is neither free nor infinite, and requires significant investment and support,” says the report. It also notes that volunteering seems to work particularly well in general practice when there is a clear community benefit. | Buck says all the practices included in his report were clear about the need to manage and support volunteers. “Volunteers are not a substitute or saviour for the NHS; they largely provide additional support, which is neither free nor infinite, and requires significant investment and support,” says the report. It also notes that volunteering seems to work particularly well in general practice when there is a clear community benefit. |
| Lampard’s review recommended proper resources for volunteer service managers. The DHSC responded with guidance on managing volunteers, but that was published only last year and the NHS does not have a comprehensive plan to integrate volunteers. | Lampard’s review recommended proper resources for volunteer service managers. The DHSC responded with guidance on managing volunteers, but that was published only last year and the NHS does not have a comprehensive plan to integrate volunteers. |
| However, Johnstone is positive that, despite some of the challenges, the NHS at 70 values its volunteers. Those who have received care from the NHS often want to give back, she says. As Keith Padmore, a retired dentist who is a volunteer driver for the NHS, puts it: “I just find it rewarding, to help people and to help the system a bit.” | However, Johnstone is positive that, despite some of the challenges, the NHS at 70 values its volunteers. Those who have received care from the NHS often want to give back, she says. As Keith Padmore, a retired dentist who is a volunteer driver for the NHS, puts it: “I just find it rewarding, to help people and to help the system a bit.” |
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