National Volunteers’ Week, running from 1 – 7 June, is a chance to recognise the invaluable contributions of people across all sectors who offer up their time to volunteer across Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH).
There are just over 1,500 volunteers who freely give their time and skills to volunteer across NUH. They cover over 150 different roles, which include: meet and greet volunteers, generic ward/mealtime assistants, spiritual and pastoral care, patient and public involvement, and tram volunteers.
One of the most popular volunteer placements at Nottingham Hospitals is the ward/mealtime assistant role, which involves chatting to patients, making drinks, assisting at meal times, collecting prescriptions, tidying up patient areas, helping to direct patients and visitors to restaurants, among other helpful tasks.
All volunteers are fully trained for the role that they undertake, after a thorough interview and vetting process.
Kerry Harper, Voluntary Services Manager, who has worked at the Trust for 20 years, said: “Our volunteers are valued members for Team NUH and make an important difference to our patients, staff and visitors. Our volunteers are inspirational; they all have their reasons for wanting to volunteer and give back to our Hospitals, and they often go above and beyond their role to help in so many ways.”
NUH currently has 122 meet and greet volunteers, aged between 20 and 90 years-of-age, based in nine entrance locations across its Hospitals. They offer a friendly welcoming point of initial contact and help for patients and visitors, with some of them based on Main Reception at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).
Rosemary Begley, who volunteers on QMC’s main reception said: “I’ve volunteered here on reception for 12 years and I enjoy every minute. It’s good to know that you’ve made a difference to someone’s day, even if it is just pointing them in the right direction.
“Volunteering is very rewarding and I’ve met so many nice people – I really look forward to my shifts. I try and greet everyone with a smile and help out in any way that I can.”
Yvonne Key, who works on QMC’s main reception, said: “Volunteers really are the unsung heroes of our hospitals. They go above and beyond to help patients, staff and visitors every day and Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to shout about the work they do.”
“The volunteers that help out on main reception, though they may only work for a few hours per week, are like a family. Many of them have started friendships through volunteering– it’s really lovely to see. They’re incredibly helpful for us as staff too.”
Meet and greet volunteers cover approximately 428 hours per week across QMC, City Hospital and Ropewalk House. Across City Hospital and QMC, volunteers gave directions 59,571 times between April 2018 and February 2019.
The Trust is also celebrating its annual Volunteer Long Service Awards on June 7, to say thank you to its long-serving volunteers for their hard work and commitment to Nottingham’s Hospitals. Recognising those volunteers who have dedicated between 5 and 35 years to NUH, this year’s ceremony will take place at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza, with 150 guests in attendance.
Jean Robinson, who volunteers on ward B26 at QMC, has been volunteering for the Trust for ten years this year. She started off working at QMC as part of the domestic team before retiring in December 2009. By February 2009, she was back at the hospital volunteering.
Jean said: “I’ve worked for the NHS for that long that I feel like I’m part of it and I don’t want to give it up. It keeps me going and I feel part of a team on B26.”
“While I can keep doing it, I will. I really enjoy volunteering – I try and go out every day but I look forward to Thursdays when I volunteer. It’s like a family here that I haven’t got at home – they look out for me during tough times and have even bought me flowers when I’ve been going through difficulties.”