As Newcastle Hospitals starts to re-open more of its services to patients, the Trust is appealing for ‘social distancing’ volunteers to help keep people safe.
Volunteers are needed to help patients coming into hospital with wayfinding and encouraging ‘social distancing’ and good hand hygiene.
Alison Haigh, Volunteer Services Manager at the Trust said: “We are aware that many patients attending hospital for the first time after self-isolating for the past 10 weeks because of coronavirus, will understandably and naturally be feeling anxious.”
“Volunteers are very much valued by our patients and staff, and as patients and visitors return in the coming weeks, our social distancing volunteers will be on hand at all main entrances to offer a warm welcome, and provide reassurance that they will be kept safe during their visit. This important role will make a real difference in the steps forward towards resuming normal services.”
The main task volunteers will be helping with are:
- Providing a welcoming and friendly meet and greet service
- Briefing people on the 2 metre safe distancing measures and hand hygiene practices
- Signposting people and encouraging them to use the gel and wipes provided
- Providing directions
- Offering additional support to visitors with mobility problems by calling for a wheelchair service
- Assisting patients to use electronical self-check-in booths in outpatient departments
Volunteers will be based at either the Royal Victoria Infirmary or Freeman Hospital and work in sessions including 8am to 12.30pm or 12.30pm to 5pm – Monday to Friday. A minimum commitment of either two half days or 1 full day per week is required and you can find out more at https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/your-career/volunteer
The appeal comes as part of National Volunteer Week (1 to 7 June) where the Trust paid tribute to all of its voluntary workforce which has contributed a staggering total of 145,952 hours in the last 12 months
A special thank you was also given to its 13 partner charitable organisations whose volunteers make up two thirds of our total voluntary team and include Daft as a Brush, MediCinema, CHUF, Radio Tyneside, League of Friends, Royal Voluntary Service and Charlie Bear.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite more than a half of our volunteers having to stand down temporarily because they were over 70 or had underlying health conditions, many stepped up to offer their time to a new ‘Call and Chat service’ making regular calls from their homes to patients self-isolating and are feeling lonely and anxious during these uncertain times.
