More than 700,000 Britons are facing a wait of up to a week to find out whether they can become an NHS volunteer in the fight against coronavirus.
Sources told MailOnline the response to the appeal launched on Tuesday had been ‘amazing’, but organisers had a huge backlog of identity checks to get through.
Hopefuls are receiving an email from the Royal Voluntary Service saying: ‘Thank you for your enquiry to volunteer for NHS Volunteer Responders. Due to high volume of enquiries we may take between two and seven days to check your identification.
The message being sent out to people in Britain signing up to the NHS volunteering scheme
‘Please also be aware that we are not planning to start any volunteering until after March 31. Thank you for your patience and once again thank you for your support.’
Once a volunteer is approved, they will have vulnerable people referred to them by doctors, nurses and those working in local councils and other professionals.
Volunteers will then be given a login to the GoodSAM Responder app, and by switching this to ‘on duty’ they will see live local volunteer tasks to pick from.
They may be asked to show the active task they are responding to if asked, and will be allowed to provide care under new rules announced on Monday.
Among those waiting for more details was Jacob Miller, who tweeted: ‘Hello, I’ve registered as a volunteer and have installed the app, logged in and set to ‘Report on duty’. What now?
‘Do I just wait for an alert or should I be doing something else? It asks for a ‘Resource code’ but I left it blank not having or knowing of one.’
Another, Terry Parrott, tweeted: ‘I volunteered two days ago, still waiting to be contacted apart from an email saying it’s not starting until next week!’
And a third said: ‘I have volunteered. Waiting for the mysterious email that has yet to arrive to complete the registration!’
Organisers said patient transport drivers will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and will get extra guidance to do the role safely.
These volunteers will provide transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensure that they are settled safely back in to their home.
Another type of volunteer is a community responder who will Collect and deliver shopping, medication or other essential supplies for those self-isolating.
A third is the NHS transport volunteer who will move equipment, supplies and medication between NHS services and sites – and help pharmacies with delivery.
There will also be ‘check-in and chat’ volunteers given support by telephone to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation.
The Government target currently stands at 750,000 after the overwhelming public response saw the initial 250,000 target smashed within just 24 hours.
Anyone who is over 18, fit, healthy and non-symptomatic can offer their time to the scheme
Downing Street confirmed today that 702,000 volunteers have so far signed up to deliver food and medicines, and perform other supportive tasks, for the 1.4million vulnerable people isolated at home due to coronavirus.
A source with knowledge of the scheme told MailOnline today: ‘The response has been amazing – at least double what we targeted.
‘There is a backlog to get through, checking people’s identity, they are who they say they are. We’re not just kind of nodding people through.
‘So they’re just doing that and we expect the first people will be picking up calls from next week, so it’s literally days rather than weeks. They just need a bit of time to do all the necessary checks.’
Speaking on Wednesday, NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis (pictured) said the Health Service is ‘truly amazed’ at how many people have signed up to volunteer
The NHS and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have already thanked those who have offered to help some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
The mass sign-up follows Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s request for people to help those isolating for 12 weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Mr Johnson – who has tested positive for coronavirus himself – has said the volunteers would be ‘absolutely crucial’ in fighting the infection, which has killed 759 people in Britain so far.
Speaking on Wednesday, NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said: ‘We are truly amazed by the number of people who want to come and help us in the war against coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured speaking to the nation on Monday) – who has tested positive for the viruys himself – said the volunteers would be ‘absolutely crucial’ in fighting it
‘I would like to thank every last one of you who are offering your time — you will without a doubt help us to save lives.
‘Our NHS needs you — whether it’s by volunteering or simply staying at home — you are helping your families, communities and protecting our NHS.’
Anyone who is over the age of 18, fit, healthy and non-symptomatic can offer their time to the scheme.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: ‘On Tuesday evening, Royal Voluntary Service readied itself to launch the biggest call out for volunteers in England since the Second World War.
‘Less than 24 hours later, we had hit our target of 250,000 sign-ups and today that number is at over 700,000. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response and cannot thank the public enough. As history shows, it is often in times of crisis that we pull together and become our best selves.
‘Our team is now working flat out with colleagues in NHS England to process the many thousands of applications we’ve received, so we can get volunteers up and running as soon as possible and matched with patients that they can begin to support.’