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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ruth Mosalski

How to become an NHS volunteer to help fight coronavirus in Wales

Details of how people can volunteer to help the NHS in Wales have been released.

On Tuesday, UK Government health minister Matt Hancock announced a call for 250,000 volunteers.

The response was massive and the Prime Minister announced more than 500,000 people have signed up to the English scheme.

They would, he said, help with things like dropping medication off to people in need or driving patients to appointments.

As health is devolved, the process is different in Wales.

Health minister Vaughan Gething initially said on Wednesday morning that councils are co-ordinating efforts for the NHS volunteering in Wales.

However the Welsh Government has now said people can also use the Volunteering Wales website or call 0300 111 0124.

The Welsh Ambulance Service is also appealing for call handlers, drivers, paramedics and medical technicians to come forward and help the fight against coronavirus.

Specific ways to help with the coronavirus effort can be found by searching "Covid-19".

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people of Wales to support the NHS, local services and their community during this very difficult time. It is important that people who do volunteer do so safely, without putting themselves of others at risk.

"People can register on the Volunteering Wales site."

However, politicians have criticised there being two different schemes.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams said "any divergence on policy or communication causes anxiety for my constituents".

He added: "The Secretary State for Health and Social Care has made an announcement on volunteering. Sadly, Welsh volunteers cannot take part in that scheme— we are cross-border— so will the Prime Minister get on the phone to the Welsh Government and say, “Let’s work together”?"

The Prime Minister responded that they would contact the Welsh Government that afternoon.

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said that a separate scheme for Wales was "not good".

He tweeted: "Not good. Lots of demand from people in Wales to be part of the Volunteer Scheme. Wales should be part of the main scheme from the get go. This emergency requires a joined up UK-wide effort."

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