Birthday celebrations for group improving patients` experience
Transcription
Birthday celebrations for group improving patients` experience
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust June 19th, 2014 Birthday celebrations for group improving patients’ experience The Hospital Volunteer Service is celebrating a year in which it has improved the experience of patients at South Tyneside District Hospital. Since its launch last June, the service, which is a partnership between South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), has gone from strength to strength. The volunteers were initially introduced on the elderly care wards and then the Stroke Unit. There are now 22 covering a variety of wards and more are beginning their training. The service was set up to allow volunteers to have more direct contact with patients to improve their experience in hospital whilst, at the same time, releasing nursing staff from non-nursing tasks. As well as supplying companionship, they help patients at mealtimes and with their hobbies and interests, and perform personal tasks, such as hairstyling and applying hand cream. They also help on the wards, doing errands to assist the ward team so that they can concentrate on caring for patients. Trust Chief Executive Lorraine Lambert said: “We have a fantastic tradition of volunteer support and we are delighted that this newest group is making such a positive contribution. I know that the small, personal touches they provide mean so much to our patients and make their stay in hospital, which can be quite a daunting experience, more pleasant. At the same time, by taking on some of the non-nursing, non-clinical duties which are important in terms of patient care but which can easily and appropriately be carried out by non-nursing staff, they are freeing up valuable nursing time.” Vicky Fleming, Hospital Volunteer Service Co-ordinator, said: “I am so pleased with how the project is progressing. We have a great team of volunteers, all of whom are dedicated to making the patients’ stay in hospital a little more comfortable. The CVS would also like to thank the staff at South Tyneside District Hospital for their continued support for the volunteers during the past year.” Pat Donaldson, of South Shields, was one of the original recruits. She said: “I thoroughly enjoy it. You really feel appreciated by the staff and the patients love it when I do things, such as their hair, for them.” Jennifer Watson, also of South Shields, is one of the newest trained volunteers. She said: “I lost my job earlier this year so I have more time on my hands and I like helping people and this seemed like a great way of doing that.” ends The first pic shows: Volunteers Jennifer Watson and Pat Donaldson with patient Agnes Barron and, back row, left to right, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust Chairman Peter Davidson, South Tyneside CVS Business Manager Susan Carruthers, Steve Jamieson, the Trust’s Director of Corporate Services, and Vicky Fleming, Hospital Volunteer Service Co-ordinator The second shows: Volunteers Jennifer Watson and Pat Donaldson with patient Agnes Barron Issued on behalf of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust by Kay Jordan For press enquiries on this release, contact 0191 404 1128 or email [email protected] Providing a range of NHS services in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
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