The single most important action we can all take, in fighting coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. However, in these extraordinary times, it’s essential that we all pull together as part of the national effort to protect the most vulnerable, reduce pressures on our NHS and care system and save lives.
If you're clinically trained
The virus has the potential to put huge additional demand on our NHS and our fellow citizens. Your support could make more of a difference than ever before, not just to patients, but to colleagues and the wider community. Even if you fall into a group which is considered to be at increased risk, you can still offer valuable support through a variety of roles in secondary, community and primary care that are not patient-facing.
You can find out more specific information for your profession by following the links online.
If you're a business owner
Letl the Government how your business might be able to help with the response to coronavirus. The support needed includes things like medical testing equipment, protective equipment for healthcare workers, such as masks, gowns and sanitiser, and expertise or support on IT, manufacturing, construction, project management, procurement or engineering.
You can contact the Government by registering yourselves online.
Helping vulnerable people
provide care or to help a vulnerable person. You must do this safely and, in any circumstances, should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres (6 feet) apart from anyone outside of your household.
You can only provide support to people who are in isolation if you fulfil all of the conditions below:
- you are well and have no symptoms like a cough or high temperature and nobody in your household does
- you are under 70
- you are not pregnant
- you do not have any long-term health conditions that make you vulnerable to coronavirus.
Become an NHS Responder
This scheme was launched by the Government to seek volunteers to help up to 1.5 million people who have been asked to shield themselves from coronavirus because of underlying health conditions. Help from volunteers has the potential to make a real difference to some of those most affected by this outbreak – from delivering essential prescriptions to calling to check on the wellbeing of those self-isolating.
They will be asked to do simple but vital tasks, including:
- delivering medicines from pharmacies;
- driving patients to appointments;
- bringing them home from hospital;
- or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home;
750,000 have already answered the call, but once registration opens again in the coming days you will be able to register online.
Become a Community Responder
Rushmoor Voluntary Services is playing a vital role in the collaborative response to coronavirus alongside Rushmoor Borough Council, and North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG. RVS will be working with existing voluntary groups across Aldershot and Farnborough, identifying new services, and matching volunteers with local people who need support. They will also run the Operation Rushmoor Community Action (ORCA) Helpline will provide information and refer people on to the local groups set up by residents to help the community during the pandemic, who will be able to help with shopping etc to local support organisations.
Over 300 local residents have already signed up, and you too can register online.
If you can't formally volunteer
The simplest thing everyone can do right now is to look out for their neighbours and offer help with shopping and other errands if people cannot get out of the house. And it’s not just about neighbours who are self-isolating; medical staff and other key workers might also appreciate an offer of help.
Last Updated; 13th April 2020
