The Government is expected to announce a recruitment drive for volunteers to plug the gap in social care staff shortages. Members of the public will be encouraged to sign up via an app for jobs such as offering support over the phone and ferrying medicine to people’s homes.
Volunteers could also do shopping and other errands as part of the programme being launched on Wednesday (June 7), The Guardian reported. Services on the GoodSAM app include “check in and chat” to help those struggling with loneliness and “pick up and deliver” to transport drugs and medical equipment from NHS sites.
The paper reported the move is aimed at freeing up space on congested hospital wards by providing support in the community which allows patients to be discharged more quickly. The GoodSAM app has already been launched but the Government’s latest drive forms part of the expansion of the NHS responders volunteer programme into social care.
