Hospitals report warns against volunteers doing work of NHS staff

[Northerner]

Volunteers play a vital role in hospitals such as by doing tea rounds and fetching medications but should never be required to do the work of trained staff, according to a report.

An estimated 78,000 volunteers perform a variety of roles in NHS hospitals across England. Richard Murray, the director of policy at the King’s Fund thinktank, which conducted the study, said that while it found frontline staff appreciated volunteers, that was “provided they were not being used as substitutes for paid staff”.

Patients appreciate the companionship, comfort and support volunteers can bring, according to the research. One of the almost 300 doctors, nurses and support staff interviewed said volunteers’ value lay in “bringing human kindness to a busy ward”.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...ns-against-volunteers-doing-work-of-nhs-staff

 

[mikeyB]

I can accept volunteers working in the cafe in smaller hospitals, but doing nothing more on the wards than, say, fetching newspapers. If they are doing unpaid work on the wards, then they are being exploited.

Apart from anything else, can you legally submit a volunteer to a criminal record check? HIV status? Employment history?

I’m not at all surprised that Matt Hancock is a fan, but what he wants is not the same as the WRVS supplying watery tea and catering quality instant coffee, when he states that volunteering dates back to 1948.

 

[grovesy]

These days need CRB checks.

 

[Amigo]

I can accept volunteers working in the cafe in smaller hospitals, but doing nothing more on the wards than, say, fetching newspapers. If they are doing unpaid work on the wards, then they are being exploited.

Apart from anything else, can you legally submit a volunteer to a criminal record check? HIV status? Employment history?

I’m not at all surprised that Matt Hancock is a fan, but what he wants is not the same as the WRVS supplying watery tea and catering quality instant coffee, when he states that volunteering dates back to 1948.

Mike, my understanding is even paid professionals are not invalidated by their HIV status in hospitals and the restrictions on HIV positive doctors, nurses and dentists has been lifted. With the advent of antiretrovirals, most positive people now have little or no detectable viral load and represent absolutely no risk so volunteers wouldn’t be screened. I’d be more concerned about thieving and criminal history to be honest!

In some places the elderly dependent struggle to get fed without volunteers. We had to go in and feed my mum because staff were too busy!

 

[trophywench]

Volunteers have to voluntarily have a CRB check if they are going to go anywhere near (let alone deliberately interact with) anyone considered remotely 'vulnerable' whatever age they happen to be. If you ever need to be in or at hospital for an appointment for you - then it automatically makes you vulnerable to some extent depending why you're there, doesn't it ?

I'd rather have a 'charity' coffee in our hospitals and pay a reasonable sum for it than the very overpriced fancy stuff that Costa sell in the main waiting room at the Uni Hospital - I only buy a drink if I'm thirsty - half a cup of thick creamy milk froth, does NOT quench your thirst. Very few (one?) places you are able to get a drink of water without paying for a designer bottle, which is ridiculous in summer in a hospital where the huge main OP waiting room has a glass roof and you can wait several hours to go in for your appointment or to get bloods taken for a test. The sinks in the loos tell you it's not drinking water. You'd think Severn Trent would have found away of supplying potable water ton a hospital, wouldn't you!