Volunteering success stories :: Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

So, briefly how would you describe your role as a volunteer?

I work on a surgical ward (Copthorn ward) every Monday morning. I go in a 7:30am and firstly I assist with breakfast on the ward, helping the patients with their food and ensuring they start the day as best as possible.

I’ll then help out with some clerical work, doing things such as checking forms have been completed properly and answering some phone calls.

How have you fit your volunteering around any other commitments?

I’m at college and also work part-time so I do have a few other commitments throughout the week. Initially, I made sure that the shift I do on the Mondays didn’t clash with any of my classes. Also, when I’m on holiday, I can sit down and ask “I can’t make this Monday morning could I work in the evening instead?” They’re always very understanding, so it hasn’t been too difficult to schedule it in.

What would you say is the most enjoyable part of your job?

Definitely interaction with patients, in particular watching them progress through their recovery. Going in a week later and seeing their improvement is really nice.

When I first started I helped care for a patient and it was nice to come in each week and for us to both grow together, for me into my job on the ward, and for them towards recovery. That was probably the highlight of my volunteering so far.

What made you initially decide to become a volunteer at SASH?

I had some free time around my studying and volunteering and felt it was important to give something back to the community.

I’d also like to train to become a paramedic once I’ve finished at college and so I decided it was important to experience the healthcare system before I made an application.

What skills do you think you’ve learnt relative to those you’ve learnt at college?

My part-time jobs also require a large degree of caring, so I’d say the biggest area for me was the understanding of medical terms and the way a ward, or even a hospital works.

I’ve been a patient here a few times, having broken bones or what-have-you but volunteering here you see a completely different side to it.

I’d also say my answering of the phone has got a lot better. I never used to want to pick it up but now it’s fine. So, I’d say my self-confidence has improved as well.

Do you think volunteering will aid any application you make for a job?

Absolutely, obviously it is quite crucial to have some healthcare experience when applying for a job in that sector but, also, I feel it shows commitment to come and volunteer week in week out, as well as an ability to communicate with people, which is very useful for any job application.

Your reasoning for volunteering can be wide reaching, from an opportunity to meet and socialise with new people to developing skills allowing you to follow a new career path. Jane Kenny, a previous volunteer at East surrey Hospital who now works part-time as a nursing assistant on Tandridge Ward, discusses her story.

Jane, what led you to begin volunteering within the hospital?

I cared for my mother until she sadly passed away around a year ago. At the time I was also in the process of applying for a position in a bank. The passing of my mother was obviously very upsetting, so I put the job at the bank to one side and thought of other part-time career options.

I had always been a carer, initially with children and then for my mother. So, caring for people on a ward seemed somewhere I could help make a real difference.

I started my training as a nursing assistant; however, I felt the recommended days of experience on the wards before becoming qualified wasn’t quite enough, and thus began volunteering on Tandridge Ward.

What sort of things did you do as a volunteer on Tandridge ward?

Tandridge is a dementia ward, and so I did a lot of things to help comfort the patients by talking to them, being a voice of reassurance, and trying to explain their situation. I also was able to help the patients at meal times and so on.

Additionally, as I knew I wanted to start working as a nursing assistant, the volunteering taught me things about how the ward worked, cleanliness and where things are kept.

Did you find your role as a volunteer satisfying?

Hugely! Simple things like discussing and sharing old stories with the patients gives a sense of humanity and enjoyment to both the patients and you.

The joy of being a volunteer is that you aren’t involved in essential roles required for the hospital to run. You could bring in a bag of souvenirs or a CD player and just chat to patients for a couple of hours. This isn’t always possible when you’re employed as a nursing assistant.

I also felt really valued as a member of a team which was nice, ‘Thank goodness it’s Jane’, ‘Oh, brilliant we’ve got an extra body’ or ‘Jane, could you take X for a walk to the dementia garden?’ It was really nice to feel valued by both the staff and patients.

So, do you think you learnt any particular skills whilst being on the ward?

Oh, so many. Observations of patients was a big one and useful for my nurse training. Also, working on a dementia ward I learnt how to act and behave around a variety of patients to best suit their care needs.

It’s not boring, that’s for sure, and its ever changing meaning each day you come in you’ll learn something new.

What sort of role do you think is best to volunteer in?

Go with your gut. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong place to volunteer within the hospital. For me personally, Joy (volunteer manager) suggested Tandridge, perhaps as my mother suffered with dementia. However, if you’re more children-orientated then perhaps a paediatric ward would be better suited and more satisfying for you.

You need to be clear in your mind when you begin volunteering whether you want to be more patient-orientated or admin-based.