This is how you can sign up to join the NHS volunteer army and fight the coronavirus pandemic

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the health service would be looking for 250,000 healthy members of the public to help support society’s most vulnerable.

Who is being asked to join?

People in good health are being asked to join the national effort to ensure vulnerable people can stay safe and well at home and to support local services.

How many people are needed?

At least quarter of a million.

What are volunteers being asked to do?

As many as 1.5 million vulnerable people across England have been instructed to "shield" themselves from society to ensure they do not get the virus.

The volunteers will help ensure these people have vital supplies such as food and medicines.

They may also be asked to drive people to appointments or make regular phone calls to those in isolation.

What about local schemes already in place?

These people are not intended to replace local schemes already set up to help the vulnerable, but to provide additional assistance to the NHS.

How will we know who needs help?

GPs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for their at-risk patients via a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service, who will match people who need help with volunteers who live near to them.

How can we join?

Members of the public can sign up at www.goodsamapp.org/NHS