NNUH is seeking volunteers for a range of new roles to support patients

Some of the new roles are based in the hospital and others will be helping patients in the community. They include being a dementia support companion for older patients and supporting patients as they return home from hospital. There will also be opportunities to be part of the ward teams and carry out surveys to collect patients' views as they leave hospital.

Some of the new roles are based in the hospital and others will be helping patients in the community. They include being a dementia support companion for older patients and supporting patients as they return home from hospital. There will also be opportunities to be part of the ward teams and carry out surveys to collect patients' views as they leave hospital.

Sally Knights, Voluntary Services Manager, says: “We are looking for volunteers who are people orientated and can give a few hours a week of their time for these rewarding roles. Some of our plans are at an early stage and the volunteers will be able to help us develop these opportunities to support our patients, both in the hospital and out in the community. We think that the new services we are developing will complement existing voluntary community services very well.

“There are some really exciting opportunities available as part of the NNUH volunteers team, particularly the “Settle in” project we’re launching to set up a network of volunteers across the county who can meet patients as they return home and carry out some simple checks around the home. Many of our patients do not have family members living locally and need extra help to regain their confidence after leaving hospital. ”

Michael Emeney, Discharge Progress Lead Co-Ordinator, has helped to develop a specification for the Settle in service which will help patients to return home with confidence after a short stay in hospital. He says: ” This service will benefit patients who are returning home after a couple of days and need someone who can carry out simple tasks such as making a cup of tea and checking that the central heating is working. They will follow up the next day either in person or on the phone.”

The Settle in volunteers can also arrange for patients to be signposted or referred to other services where necessary.

For more information, contact the Volunteers Office at volunteers@nnuh.nhs.uk or telephone 01603 286060.

Background
The volunteer service at NNUH has grown from 72 volunteers to 675 in the last 10 years. The service is run by the Voluntary Services Team which co-ordinates all the volunteer activities.

All volunteers undertake a training programme covering areas such as infection control, health and safety, safeguarding patients and confidentiality. On recruitment, volunteers must supply two references and have a Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check. They also have an occupational health assessment.

Volunteers fulfil a variety of roles, such as meeting and greeting patients as they arrive at hospital, supporting patients and staff in the wards and clinics, and providing support to patients at mealtimes. Dementia support volunteers have been introduced to the Older People’s Medicine wards and some specialist roles have also been established such as Reading Aloud, Reminiscence, Breast Feeding Support and Music Therapy.