The QEH celebrate the dedicated individuals who support the hospital and its patients every day during Volunteers Week (June 1-7).
A well-deserved light is being shone on the committed volunteers, who last year gave an incredible 34,000 hours of their spare time to the local hospital.
A total of 306 individuals cover 44 departments across the Trust and provide a range of roles from lab, sample and pharmacy runners, to patient information and support, to manning the League of Friends shop.
Areas such as A&E, the Arthur Levin Day Surgery, the Macmillan Centre and many of the wards have active volunteers who help out every week, supporting staff to provide the best possible patient care and being a listening ear to those who need it.
John Voaden is based on A&E and has volunteered for the hospital for over 9 years. He said: “I feel really proud to be a volunteer; I wanted to give something back to the NHS that looked after me.
“The staff in A&E are like family to me – there are difficult times here, but it makes you realise there is always someone else in need and you need to keep going.”
John assists the A&E team with general errands, cleaning and tea-making, as well as assisting patients on their return to the local community.
Some volunteers give a few hours every couple of weeks, whilst others help weekly. Chantelle Simpson has been giving four mornings a week to the hospital for over 3 years. She gets involved in all sorts of roles across the hospital, from front desk patient support to sample runs between wards.
Chantelle said: “I really enjoy it. To anyone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer, give it a go, you never know!”
For more information on volunteering opportunities at QEH, visit the “Get Involved” tab on the QEH website (www.qehkl.nhs.uk) or contact Paul Holley-Smith by phone on 01553 214687 or email Paul.Holley-Smith@qehkl.nhs.uk.
–ENDS–
Pictured: Eileen Didcock and Joan Edwards; League of Friends / John Voaden; A&E / From left standing: Eric Franks, Ben Cooper, Lynn Barnett; Seated from left: Sid Randell and Julie Groom
To download the press release and pictures, click here.
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