Current COVID-19 deployments

For the last few weeks, in response to the rising number of COVID-19 patients, members of the Corps have deployed in support of 3 different organisations:

* The North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) at the Nightingale Hospital, London, in a patient befriending role.
* The Royal London Hospital, assisting as personal staff officers to key members of the critical care staff.
* The Coroner for London Inner South, with administration and call handling support.

At the Nightingale Hospital Corps members are supporting the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) with the befriender role to enhance patient experience whilst at the hospital. Our volunteers are talking to patients and helping them use technology to communicate with loved ones or access radio or television. This has been hugely appreciated by the patients and very rewarding for those who are supporting this role.

At the Royal London Hospital Corps members are supporting critical care staff as personal staff officers. The department has had to rapidly expand in order to cope with the increased number of COVID-19 patients and our volunteers are helping with general administration and logging at meetings.

For the coroner's service in London Inner South a team of Corps members are supporting the Coroner remotely. Our volunteers are using their call handling skills to contact bereaved family members to gather information and update them on the process. This role is an excellent use of the transferable skills our members have gained through working at the City of London Police's Casualty Bureau.