Butterfly Volunteers design new patient booklet

A new booklet has been launched, designed and developed by Butterfly Volunteers at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), which aims to enhance the person-centred care offered.

Around 50 Butterfly Volunteers give their time to provide companionship and support to both palliative and end-of-life patients and their families at NNUH.

Caroline Stevens, Butterfly Volunteer Co-ordinator, said: “It’s sometimes difficult to personalise our visits if patients are unresponsive or we don’t happen to meet family members on our visits, and this led to a small group of Butterfly Volunteers getting their heads together to come up with the Butterfly “All About Me” booklet.

“The booklet is to be completed by either the patient and/or their loved ones, with support from a Butterfly Volunteer if needed, so that we can know more about the patient and their likes, dislikes and interests, so that we can personalise their care and visits.”

Volunteer Gilly Plumb became aware of a book that can be purchased and used for recording memories with loved ones, however it was very large and not practical for the hospital setting. Together with volunteers Barbara Elvy, Chris Blazeby, Leila Stubbs and Barbara Clemmett, they met up for a brainstorming session to work through different formats and relevant content to be included, based around their Butterfly volunteering experience.

Gilly said: “Chris Blazeby deftly pulled together all the teams’ thoughts to present them in a professional booklet format.”

The booklet has been finished off with a beautiful butterfly drawing by Molly Sellers, granddaughter of Barbara Elvy and budding artist. It has had further input from the End-of-Life Steering Group, Medical Illustration, Chief Nurse, Rachael Cocker, and Palliative Care Matron, Dani Ayre.

Caroline added: “I’m so proud of our amazing Butterflies who formed their own working group to bring this together. Not only have they formed a tight-knit group, but they’ve also yet again thought of others and spent their time to benefit our patients and their relatives.”

Chris said: “When I signed up to become a Butterfly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, it has proved to be a very rewarding and satisfying role, one in which we meet very interesting patients and their families. Not only do we provide help to them, but we also support each other and look upon it as a privilege.”

Butterfly Volunteers will offer the booklet to their patients and families to be completed and left on their bedside table so that all staff and visitors can benefit from the information it contains.

Back to Media Centre