New wave of volunteers line up to support Northampton General Hospital

In the last month 150 new volunteers have offered their time to support Northampton General Hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.

These volunteers will support existing volunteer roles, such as helping the pharmacy team, as well as a new response volunteer service to provide quick support in the hospital.

Emma Wimpress, head of Volunteer Services, explained how their support is making a difference in the hospital.

“We are astounded by the support from the local community and by how many people have offered their time to help us.

“In recent weeks we’ve seen hairdressers, teachers, bank workers and even sales directors all offer their time to us. For most of our volunteers these opportunities are a way to give something back, to learn new skills and to socialise with others. Now more than ever it’s heart-warming to see how many people want to support their local hospital”.

Lucy O’Connor, a charity director, is one of the hospital's new response volunteers and explained what it was like joining the NHS: “It’s wonderful to be a part of such a friendly and supportive team. Despite joining during a time of crisis, I was instantly made to feel welcome and appreciated.

"I am so proud to be an NGH Volunteer and that I can do something to support the amazing work being done at the hospital”.

Jane Moore has taken on a role to support in radiology: “I wasn’t sure what to expect as a volunteer at NGH, but now I am trained and volunteering I’m so glad I put my name forward.

"I am spending three to four hours a week three times a week in radiology, welcoming patients and taking their temperature. NGH staff are amazing, so friendly and also so calm. They have provided me with training and a fabulous shirt to wear. I feel proud to be supporting the NHS this way”.

Dan Brothers, who is a property consultant, described how the role has given him a purpose.

“I wanted to join the volunteer team to help. When you can’t do what you usually do you feel purposeless.

"Since joining the team I feel like I have a purpose - getting up, making a difference and helping others. The volunteer team has been great! The logistics of having so many people wanting to help out and the process they have to go through cannot be easy but they have made it seem so! Looking forward to continuing to help out where I can!”

The volunteers in numbers:

* 59 people have received clinical and basic life support training. This means they can help with feeding patients and having meaningful conversations

* 200 letters have been delivered to loved ones

* More than 50 bags of patient property have been delivered

* On average the team help with 60 pharmacy deliveries and are doing over 15,000 steps per shift

* 500 visors have been put together

* One donation of drinks and snacks from the Northamptonshire Health Charity

This week, the Chronicle & Echo were proud to link up with the Northamptonshire Health Charity to ensure every ward had copies of the Chron for patients to read during their stay.