I had to read your article twice to get over the shock of yet another government sticking plaster (Ministers seek volunteer social care army to speed up hospital discharges, 6 June). I’ve worked in the NHS for 14 years and in the voluntary sector for 24 years before that. Yes, it worked during the pandemic, when a lot of people were furloughed and were moved to help out in a time of national crisis. But three years on, much has changed.
Many people can no longer afford to volunteer, even if paid expenses. Many of the older NHS volunteers have not returned due to their concerns regarding Covid and their own deteriorating health. Many voluntary organisations are struggling to recruit volunteers.
