DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by The Government News Network on 3 June 2008
Survey shows
Volunteers have improved mental and physical health
Health Secretary Alan Johnson today launched a six-month
consultation to improve support for volunteers in the NHS, social
care and third sector, and to encourage more volunteering opportunities.
The consultation, 'Towards a strategy to support
volunteering in health and social care' will lead to a
national volunteering strategy next year.
Mr Johnson launched the consultation at St Bartholomew's
Hospital, in London, after spending the morning working as
volunteer in the hospital shop and on the wards.
The aim of the consultation and subsequent strategy is to:
* raise the esteem and profile of volunteering;
* help improve management and support for volunteers;
* support more robust evaluation of the outcomes and benefits of
volunteering; and,
* allow more coherent investment to support their involvement.
Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health said:
"Volunteers do an amazing job, they are vital to the
lifeblood of the NHS and social care services. Volunteering does
not just benefit patients , research has shown that it makes the
volunteers happier too. 1There is a long established tradition of
volunteering across the full range of health and social care
settings, indeed the NHS grew from the pre-NHS voluntary hospitals.
"I am pleased to announce the start of a consultation on
volunteering. As we prepare to celebrate the NHS's 60th
Anniversary, we would like to pay tribute to the volunteers who
help shape the service and for us all to recognise, encourage and
support volunteering. This document is built on expert insight
from stakeholders across the public and third sectors and aims to
articulate a clear vision of how volunteering fits into the
health, well-being and social care system."
The consultation is being launched at the start of National
Volunteering Week and seeks to engage organisations across the
public and third sectors in health and social care to debate the
potential for volunteering to contribute to improved health and
well-being for patients, carers and service users through a
deliberation consultation process.
1 Assessing the Impact of Volunteering at Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Simon Teasdale, Institute for
Volunteering Research May 2007
Ivan Lewis, Care Services Minister said:
"Volunteering has a huge potential role in providing more
flexible, responsive and patient focused health and social care
services. Volunteers play a variety of critical roles, at all
levels, providing mutual benefit to staff, volunteers and service
users within health and social care services. We know that their
contribution is essential and can improve the lives of patients
and their local communities.
"They deserve more visible recognition and support across
the health and social care system, along with a clear vision and a
strategy which is what this consultation will provide. It is also
directly informed by Baroness Julia Neuberger's report, as
the Government's Volunteering Champion, of her review of
volunteering in health and social care."
Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of Volunteering England:
"Volunteering England is very pleased that the contribution
of volunteers to the NHS and wider public sector has been
recognised through the development of this national strategy. We
are also delighted that the need to support volunteer managers has
been acknowledged, as has the understanding that volunteering
incurs real costs through admin, training and expenses.
"Volunteering England believes this new strategy will help
Commissioners develop evaluation processes which measure the
outcomes and impact of volunteering. This will, in turn, lead to a
better understanding of the benefits of volunteering on their
wider strategic objectives, such as reducing health inequalities."
The consultation closes on 30th September 2008. The final
strategy and implementation plan will be published in 2009.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. Volunteers time is donated in addition to core resources and
volunteers complement rather than duplicate or replace paid staff
capacity and skill
2. A survey done last year at the Chelsea and Westminster
hospital showed that that volunteers felt their role had improved
their physical and mental health and the vast majority of patients
felt that volunteers brought a special quality to what they did
(Assessing the Impact of Volunteering at Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Simon Teasdale, Institute for
Volunteering Research May 2007)