Ward volunteers

Rosie volunteers

The ward volunteers in the Rosie have an incredibly varied role, improving patient experience and also supporting staff.

During a shift, as well as chatting to patients, volunteers could be spending time showing birth partners and mothers around the ward, distributing magazine donations and taking the Discharge DVD to patients who are going to be discharged. As with other ward volunteer roles, under the instruction of the Housekeeper, Rosie volunteers will help at mealtimes by giving out meals to patients who are not mobile.

Rosie-Role-Description

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Ward visitor

Our volunteer visitor team are allocated to a small group of wards, visiting patients who are lonely, anxious or frightened. They also have the capacity to take on occasional visiting requests from staff, patients and family members, to visit patients.

You’ll meet a wide range of people as you move from ward to ward, interacting with individual patients. Often people just want someone to talk to, but you might be involved in playing a game or reading a book or magazine with a patient, shopping for small items from the concourse, or taking a patient to one of the garden spaces on site. Visitors also give out activity packs to help patients to pass the time. Good communication skills, confidence and adaptability are important.

Times: 14.00 – 16.00
Uniform: Apron or red volunteer polo shirt

Pets As Therapy (PAT) dogs

Bringing joy and comfort to our patients, our team of PAT dogs and their owners visit both the wards and some outpatient areas.

All our dogs have passed their temperament test and have received their certificate from Pets As Therapy – this must be achieved before the owner applies for volunteering. If you have a dog you think may be suitable, please ensure your dog completes all the requirements and is fully qualified through Pets As Therapy before applying to volunteer. You’ll find all the information you need here. We are always looking for new dogs to join our team as the PAT dogs are very popular and much in demand!

Times: 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 16:00
Uniform: Pets as Therapy t-shirt or polo shirt

Discharge Lounge volunteer

This varied role provides general support to the Discharge Lounge team, helping ensure patients are discharged in a timely matter.

Providing social interaction in the form of conversation, activity packs or iPads, Discharge Lounge volunteers help patients pass the time before they are able to leave the hospital. After training and under direction from the nursing team, volunteers collect patients from wards and take them to the Discharge Lounge and collect TTOs from inpatient pharmacy.

Discharge Lounge volunteers are confident communicators, tactful listeners, keen observers, and emotionally resilient.

Times: Various
Uniform: Red volunteer apron

Ward volunteer

Our most popular role, ward volunteers are based on one ward so they get to know their allocated ward very well. Ward volunteers reduce social isolation for patients offering a listening ear and a helping hand.

Our volunteers assist the ward staff to help make the patients’ mealtimes as enjoyable as possible. Many older patients are at high risk of dehydration and malnutrition, and volunteers can make a huge impact on this important aspect of patient well-being. Some older patients are coping with dementia and memory problems so a willingness to train in dementia awareness is important, with further training available to those who develop an interest in helping our older patients. Ward volunteers are confident communicators, tactful listeners, keen observers, and emotionally resilient.

Times: 10:30 – 13:30 and 16:30 – 18:30
Uniform: Red volunteer apron

Dementia champion volunteer