NNUH is Investing in Volunteers

Each week, around 176 volunteers give a total of 1500 hours of their time, free of charge, to support patients and staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

On 9th June many of them turned out to see the Trust chairman, David Prior, unveil a certificate to show that the Trust has achieved a national ‘Investing in Volunteering' award.

The award is designed show that organisations value their volunteers and provide them with appropriate training and support.

The volunteers range from students who help out in their holidays to others in their eighties who have been working regularly at the hospital for many years.

“We owe a huge debt to all our volunteers as they provide a valuable service for both patients and staff,” said David Prior, chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The longest serving helper is 75-year-old Nora Long, from Sprowston, who has been a volunteer for 34 years, while the two oldest volunteers are 84 year-old Cora Oelrichs, from Eaton, and 83-year old Lyn Turner from Thorpe St Andrew, who still help out regularly.

A recent campaign to recruit volunteers at Cromer Hospital has been very succcessful, with 10 new volunteers about to sign up.

Volunteers are always needed at NNUH – particularly to hrelp with meeting and greeting patients. If you have some spare time and would like to help, either in Norwich or Cromer, call Sally Knights, Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, on 01603 286060.