Volunteer:
Corey Graham (Ward Support Volunteer)
Location:
Ward 49, RVI provides care for adults who have
been admitted with a variety of cardiac conditions and
disease, such as suspected and known heart attacks, heart
failure and any other causes of chest pain.
Length of Service:
Approx. 4 months
Why did you decide to become a volunteer?
I was looking on the NuTH website with the intention of learning more about the Work
Experience programme, but saw a link for the Volunteers Section and so thought I’d have
a look and see what more I could learn about Hospital Volunteers. After reading through
the information on the website, I decided to give it a go! I joined the trust volunteers as
I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to see what life was like working in a
hospital, and see what it was like working on a ward and engaging with patients. It allows
me to engage with the people we care for and get a better understanding of how things
work in a hospital, as well as providing a set of helping hands for staff on the wards.
Hospitals provide care for lots of ill members of the community, and being a Trust
Volunteer allows me to give back to the hospitals and the staff.
Describe
a
typical
day
and
what
is
your
favourite
part
of
volunteering?
As a Ward Support Volunteer, I help out between 4-8pm One evening per week. A typical
shift would start off with me going around the ward cleaning the computers, ensuring
that the ward is kept as clean and sterile as possible. If a patient has recently left, I
may help the Healthcare Assistants with cleaning and making the beds, ready for a new
patient to come to the ward. At around 5pm, the food trolley is ready and so the meal
tray are given to the patients. Sometimes I will help distribute the meal trays, other
times I will go around the ward with the drinks cart and offer patients something to
drink. This often involves engaging and talking with patients – possibly the most
worthwhile aspect of my role. After meals, I assist with collecting in the trays and
clearing the patient’s tables in preparation for visiting hours.
6-8pm is visiting hours, and so I answer the door video camera to allow families entry to
the ward, greeting them and helping them find their way around the ward if they haven’t
been there before. I often answer phone calls, taking messages and relaying them to the
appropriate staff. On some occasions, I may sit and talk with patients or with their
families, helping them through what must be a distressing time.
For me, the best part of my role is the engaging with the patients. Whether it be simply
asking how they are while pouring them a cup of tea or sitting down and chatting to them,
it is the most worthwhile aspect of what I do. A big part of NuTH is to provide
“healthcare at its very best – with a personal touch”, and I feel that the patient
engagement I do helps to put that “personal touch” in the care that they receive. It is
this personal touch that makes what I do so worthwhile, and gives me a real feel for
what Newcastle Hospitals is all about.
What advice would you give to soneone considering becoming a
volunteer?
I became a NuTH Volunteer about 4 months ago, and haven’t looked back. Whatever role
you’re thinking about applying for – go for it. Being a volunteer is so worthwhile, and is
made better by knowing that in whatever way you help, your role is helping you in turn.