Coffey's plan to fix care crisis by recruiting a million volunteers is 'insult to skilled care workers'

The health and social care minister's new plan for patients, which includes recruiting one million volunteers to help the NHS and social care, has been criticised as "an insult to skilled care workers".

Our Plan for Patients sets out the government’s package of measures to ensure people in England receive easier access to the NHS and social care this winter and next. This includes £500m extra social care funding to get patients out of hospital, setting a target of two weeks for non-urgent GP appointments and getting pharmacists to supply more medicine such as contraception without a GP prescription.

As part of Our Plan for Patients, Thérèse Coffey is calling on the public to take part in a “national endeavour” to support the health and social care system, calling on the one million volunteers who stepped up during the pandemic to support the NHS and social care to come forward again.

However the suggestion has been mocked by Sara Livadeas, chair designate at Age UK Oxfordshire who said: "Seeking help from volunteers is frankly an insult to skilled care workers who support people with really complex needs, and their families, often at the end of life. What is she saying? Anyone can do it?"

Sally Warren, director of policy at The King’s Fund, said: “The single most significant reason many people find it hard to access care is the chronic lack of staff across both NHS and social care. This existed long-before Covid-19 struck and has been many years in the making.

“Many of the other measures announced by the Secretary of State, such as extending the emergency registration scheme for retired staff to re-join the NHS, changes to pensions, and a drive to enlist more health service volunteers, are welcome, but they are too little too late to avoid an extremely difficult winter. Addressing the staffing crisis will require a comprehensive, long term workforce strategy, and I hope the government comes good on its commitment to deliver one this autumn.”