Call for volunteers to work in Portsmouth care homes during the pandemic

The city's voluntary and charity hub, the Hive, is advertising for admin and front desk workers, as well as cleaners, to support existing care home staff.

It comes after the most recent data showed there were five coronavirus-related deaths in Portsmouth care homes in the first eight days of January - as Covid deaths nationally have significantly increased in recent weeks.

Lou Wilders, operations manager at Hive Portsmouth, said: 'We are advertising for a variety of volunteer roles to help the city respond to the demands and challenges created by Covid-19.

'This includes those in the health and care sector who understandably are under some of the greatest pressure. With volunteers assisting with some of the responsibilities in these settings it provides staff with more capacity to focus on the needs of those in their care.'

A recent advert for vaccine wellbeing volunteers to work at a Covid vaccine centre that is due to open at St James' Hospital in Milton saw the Hive 'overwhelmed' by responses.

'We've always known that there's a big community heart in Portsmouth but it's been even more visible in the past year with so many people stepping up to help those affected by Covid-19,' Ms Wilders added.

'Given that we need to assign volunteers across the city for many months to come, we are asking people not to be concerned if they do not hear from us immediately.

'We may not need them tomorrow or the next day, but the city will need them at some stage and we would like to thank them for their community spirit and patience.'

SEE ALSO: QA Hospital boss tells of ‘tired' staff

It is thought volunteers to assist the city throughout the pandemic will be needed seven days a week until at least August.

Since records began there have been 55 Covid deaths in Portsmouth care homes and 515 deaths at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

To register an interest in any voluntary roles with the Hive or to find out more visit volunteer.hiveportsmouth.com/search-results.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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