April 2021
This week in Prime Ministers Questions I asked to meet with Boris Johnson to discuss the creation of an NHS Cadet scheme having been inspired by local volunteers.
It has been a year since I started volunteering at Watford General and this is what inspired the idea to create an NHS Cadet scheme. In a report which was published last year I made the point that unlike the Armed Forces, which has reserve and cadet forces, the NHS has no official volunteering arm beyond third party organisations such as HelpForce and St John’s Ambulance.
The public appetite to support the NHS through volunteering was seen at its height through the 750,000 people who signed up to the GoodSam app, and now is the time to capitalise on that.
A survey that I conducted in 2020 demonstrated that volunteering had a positive impact on people and helped them feel more connected to their community. We saw a surge in community spirit during lockdown and we have an opportunity to make the most of that and help further support our fantastic NHS.
There is already existing volunteering in hospital settings with roles including manning hospital shops and tea rooms, providing clerical support and trolley services. However, in ‘normal times’ red tape can too often shut the door on volunteers seeking to provide help to supplement the work of public services.
This is why I hope to see the creation of an NHS Cadets service by NHS England, which could also act as a pathway for those wanting to work in the Health and Social Care sector.
I was delighted that the Prime Minister paid tribute to local volunteers in Watford. I’m pleased that he endorsed the scheme and I look forward to taking this forward.
