Leading NHS CEO says volunteers are a strategic priority
2nd April 2025
In the evolving landscape of UK healthcare, the strategic importance of volunteering programmes cannot be underestimated.
NHS leader Glen Burley recently wrote a piece for the Health Service Journal that sheds light on volunteering’s transformative impact within NHS trusts. Glen is the Chief Executive for four trusts within the Foundation Group provider collaborative in the Midlands, where volunteering is not merely a supplementary service; it is essential for improving efficiency, addressing health inequalities, and enhancing patient care.
Take, for instance, the George Eliot Hospital Trust in Warwickshire, which, with the support of Helpforce, initiated a two-year pilot programme called the Back to Health Pathway. This innovative approach linked new and existing volunteering services, allowing trained volunteers to reach out to patients before their appointments, providing support to ensure that they are able to attend. The results were remarkable: over 40,000 people were supported, leading to an estimated 111 weeks of productivity gains and a 5.8% reduction in Did Not Attend (DNA) rates.
Similarly, at the South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust, volunteers played a pivotal role in the emergency department, supporting nearly 115,000 patients over 20 months and contributing significant hours of efficiency gains. The feedback from staff is overwhelmingly positive; 87% agree that volunteers improve the quality of service they can provide. Volunteers aren't just helping patients; they are also enhancing the overall operational success of the healthcare system.
Glen Burley’s insights challenge NHS leaders and policymakers to rethink their approach to volunteer programmes. He advocates for a systemic integration of volunteers across healthcare settings, a vision that is being brought to life through Helpforce’s ambitious ICS Back to Health programme. This initiative seeks to unify leaders from various integrated care systems, exploring how to maximise the benefits of volunteering at a systemic level.
We know that volunteers are not just an asset; they are a vital component of modern healthcare delivery. Their contributions have already led to significant improvements in patient care and operational efficiency in the trusts we work with. Glen Burley’s article challenges NHS leaders and policy leads to recognise the strategic importance of volunteer programmes in our healthcare system. The benefits of doing so, far outweigh the risks of doing nothing.