New charter for volunteers in supporting the NHS

A pioneering charter showing how volunteers can make a valuable contribution to the NHS in England has been launched by health unions UNISON and Helpforce.

The aim of the charter is to ensure that the tens of thousands of people who give up their time to provide comfort and help to patients are given guidance about their roles, without undermining paid staff or affecting patient safety. The guidance is also intended to safeguard against the use of volunteers, of which there are an estimated 78,000 in hospitals, as cheap substitutes for trained health staff.

Among the key principles enshrined in the charter are: volunteers should not undermine paid staff, with essential care tasks reserved for health employees; no volunteers to be included in the workforce numbers for individual trusts and they must be clearly identified as volunteers; and that the unions will monitor how volunteers are used within organisations, with patient safety and confidentiality the primary concern.

Sara Gorton, chair of the health unions and UNISON head of health, said: “The number of volunteers in English hospitals is expected to double by 2023. That’s why it’s vital staff, volunteers and their managers agree measures to protect themselves and the people who use the health service.

“The charter recognises the important contribution of those who give their time for free to an under-resourced NHS, as well as providing clarity for the way ahead. It also ensures unions are involved in making this work in local hospitals.”