THE NHS has been so overwhelmed with volunteers to help vulnerable people during the coronavirus crisis that it has paused recruitment, for now.

Since the call went out last week, more than 750,000 people have signed up to help NHS workers deliver medicine and supplies to 1.4million vulnerable patients isolating at home from Covid-19.

In the first 24 hours alone, 400,000 volunteers put their hands

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Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaking in the House of Commons in Westminster, London Credit: PA:Press Association

How can you become an NHS coronavirus volunteer?

On March 29, the NHS temporarily paused recruitment into the Volunteer Responders scheme for the next few weeks while it processes the first 750,000 applications.

People who are interested in joining have been asked to wait as more information about how to get involved will be released soon.

"Our team is now working flat out to process the many thousands of applications we've received, so we can get volunteers up and running as soon as possible," the NHS Volunteer Responders' website says.

"We have now paused recruitment and kindly ask anyone who is still interested in volunteering to wait a few weeks for the application process to reopen."

Members of the public still interested in volunteering have been asked to keep an eye on @GoodSamApp and @RoyalVolService on Twitter for updates.

You can also find out more at goodsamapp.org/NHS.

Those helping might be called on to do simple but vital tasks such as:

Delivering medicines from pharmacies

Driving patients to appointments

Taking them home from hospital

Making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home

NHS Volunteer Responders is not intended to replace local groups helping their vulnerable neighbours but is an additional service provided by the NHS.

Doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for their at-risk patients via a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS).

The service will match people who need help with volunteers who live near to them.

Some charities will also be able to refer people to the service.

Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS Director of Primary Care, said: "Many of those shielding will need our support to do that, and by signing up to be an NHS Volunteer Responder, people who are well can do their bit too.

“This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments where a single action from one person can be the difference between life and death for another.

"Simple acts of kindness are going to make all the difference in keeping some of the most vulnerable people well and out of hospital."

1 Credit: Getty - Contributor

How else can you help?

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) says that, "for now, the best thing to do is to check in on neighbours".

For example, you could offer help with shopping and other errands.

It adds that other people in the community who might also appreciate help are:

Stretched medical staff and volunteers

Staff and volunteers in key worker roles

Supermarket workers

Delivery drivers

NCVO suggests people can volunteer with organisations providing support.

Charities are currently working with government and local authorities to create ways for volunteers to get involved.

If you don’t have a particular charity you want to support in your local area, contact your local Volunteer Centre, CVS or visit the Do-it website to find out where your help is most urgently needed

You can sign up to the British Red Cross' community reserve volunteers scheme

Your local foodbank may appreciate donations or help with deliveries for those who can't leave the house

You can find more information on this on The Trussell Trust and Fareshare websites

Are coronavirus volunteers classed as key workers?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs in the House of Commons last week that volunteering was “a legitimate reason to travel”.

“I just want to make it absolutely clear that for people that are volunteering in the response to Covid-19, people who are caring even with unpaid and informal caring responsibilities, then it is OK to go and do that," he said.

“And you should do that, but you should stay more than two metres away from others wherever possible.

"But this has to be a practical instruction because of course we need to care for people.

“And I want to make clear that volunteering in the response to Covid-19 is a legitimate reason to travel.”