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
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Providing a range of NHS services in
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