Two of the Keitaro team in the United Kingdom have signed up to be NHS Voluntary Responders whilst the Coronavirus Pandemic is hitting the nation. Mark Gibbs, Sales Director and Barrie Wade UK & Ireland Business Development Manager have both volunteered to help the older population and those with underlying health issues who are isolated in their own homes and cannot get out.
NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS during the Covid-19 outbreak. To do this the NHS needs an ‘army’ of volunteers who can support the 1.5m people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well. Doctors, nurses and other professionals will be able to refer people in to NHS Volunteer Responders and be confident that they have been matched with a reliable, named volunteer.
Barrie said “Volunteering was never a doubt for me. Having worked in the emergency services I know that in time of need you have to pull together and work as a team, in this instance the team is expanding to include the public”
Mark and Barrie who both reside on the South Coast will be volunteering in their local community of the Isle of Wight. Mark added “The Island is a small place and heavily community orientated, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the turnout to volunteer was huge”
A Keitaro Spokesperson said “The United Kingdom is fighting a growing pandemic like the rest of the world. It will require a huge effort from all citizens of the world to beat this and community groups are the backbone of any society, therefore Keitaro are proud to be supporting Mark and Barrie in their volunteering, a decision which needed no hesitation”
You can join too!
We hope that we can inspire others to join too, so If you would like to support the NHS during the Covid-19 outbreak, visit www.goodsamapp.org/NHS.
Here are the ways you can support:
Community Response volunteer: This role involves collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home.
Patient Transport volunteer: This role supports the NHS by providing transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensuring that they are settled safely back in to their home.
NHS Transport volunteer: This role involves transporting equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites, it may also involve assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.
Check-in and Chat volunteer: This role provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation.
