THE NHS has issued an urgent call for more volunteers at its Warrington vaccination sites to ensure they continue to run smoothly.

NHS Volunteer Responders are seeking more steward volunteers across Cheshire at local jab centres where there is a high demand for additional help.

Requests for steward volunteers have soared in recent weeks, and there are now more than 2,000 shifts that need filling at sites across the country every day.

The north west has seen a growing need for steward volunteers, and the NHS is calling for help to get people vaccinated over the summer, particularly in those areas of most vaccination need.

Steward volunteers support the efficient and safe movement of patients through vaccination sites, ensuring social distancing measures are in place and identifying people who require additional support.

Among a list of vaccination sites seeking volunteers is the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

Shifts usually last up to six hours with expenses covered. No experience or qualifications are required and a full briefing is provided on site.

Volunteers use a mobile phone app to choose what shifts they would like to do and when during what is one of the busiest and most crucial periods of the national vaccination programme.

More than 50million vaccines have already been delivered and work continues at pace to vaccinate all adults.

Catherine Johnstone CBE, chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service said: “We find ourselves at a crucial moment in the vaccination rollout.

“There is a real urgency to this, and we are working at pace to get all adults vaccinated as fast as possible.

“There is a particular need for steward volunteers to help the vaccination programme reach communities most in need.

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“If you are able to help by joining the team, please do not hesitate. Together we can get the jabs done.”

Andrew Clarke, a steward volunteer from the north west, added: “I like working in a team environment, so the steward volunteer role came naturally to me.

“I love meeting new people, am very sociable and one of the jobs as a steward is to help with queue management, so I will often be chatting to everyone in the queues.

“It is great to see the younger generations coming along for their jabs and it really is a buzz to see them after they have had their jab and are on the way out. It is a good feeling.”

If you are interested in signing up as a steward volunteer, visit nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk