Volunteers help to make hospital less of a pain
A NEW team of volunteers are helping enhance patient experiences and assist the acute hospital services team at the PEH as part of a new Health & Social Care initiative.
The scheme, which was proposed in December, started in the spring.
An initial team of 15 volunteers are giving up two hours of their time each week on seven different wards, covering 110 beds.
Acute quality improvement manager Clare Atkins said that each volunteer was allocated a ward so that they would become a familiar face for patients.
‘The volunteers help fill up the patients’ time with social interactions while the nurses are busy,’she said.
‘For patients, being in hospital can often be a lonely experience, especially if they are in for a long time, so to be able to talk to someone gives them a nice break, and I think the volunteers get something out of it too.’
Some of the activities that the volunteers do with the patients include walking with them to the canteen, going outside for some fresh air and listening to their stories.
‘As it’s a new scheme, not all the volunteers have started yet, but we have had a lot of expressions of interest. The two hours that they do can be very flexible, and we hope to expand the roles that the volunteers are able to provide as the scheme develops,’ Mrs Atkins said.
Volunteer Eileen Bougourd was one of the first to help out when the scheme started three weeks ago.
‘I have been doing it on Saturday mornings. Usually I will let the patients lead the conversation, but sometimes I will ask questions to help them as some of the elderly patients struggle with memory loss.
‘It’s lovely to have been able to talk to both young and old patients, and I’ve really taken it all in my stride so far.’
Alison Nevitt has been helping on Brock Ward on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. She said that it had been lovely to interact with the patients.
‘Some of the patients have no family to visit them so in that sense it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to give back in this way. Recently I lost my mum, so I know how much of a struggle it can be to not have people there.’
Ewa Mikrut started volunteering on De Sausmarez Ward last week, and said she had enjoyed meeting a range of different people.
‘I’m originally from Poland, so patients will hear my accent and that’s how we get talking,’ she said.
‘My job involves working with children, so to volunteer and talk to older people here is really positive as I get that range of ages.’
