These dedicated helpers give up their spare time so that they can support thousands of patients and relatives at the Trust’s Doncaster, Mexborough and Worksop sites. Helping out on wards, clinics and libraries, they are often the first point of contact that visitors have when they pass through the hospital doors and can be depended upon to give visitors a warm welcome.
In short, they do a lot for DBTH, contributing a staggering 38,000 hours each year. To show appreciation for this incredible commitment, the Trust hosts annual get-togethers around Christmas time – at both Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI) and Bassetlaw hospital – during which the helpers are given coffees, cakes and sandwiches, as well as well-earned recognition for all their hard work. The 2019 brunches also saw the introduction of long-service awards, with certificates being handed out to those who have been volunteering for the healthcare provider for upwards of five, ten, or fifteen years. A few of the accolades even presented to people who have been at the organisation for over 25 years.
The brunches were attended by Neil Rhodes, Non-executive Director and Deputy Chair at DBTH, who stopped by to personally thank these unsung heroes for the time they donate to help services go above and beyond.
Speaking about this, Neil said: “We rely so much on our wonderful volunteers, especially around this time of year when everyone is eager to see their loved ones. It’s therefore incredibly important that we take this opportunity to express our gratitude and reflect on how much they give for the sake of our patients. Presenting the long-service awards was an especially humbling experience, highlighting just how dedicated some of these amazing individuals are.’’
Mary Stockton, who has been supporting the main reception at DRI for over 25 years, said: “I love volunteering here at the Trust, because it gives me a lot of personal satisfaction knowing that I am making a real difference to something that is so vital to the local community. It’s a two-way street really, as I get so much fulfilment from what I do and enjoy working alongside all my fantastic colleagues. At the same time, it was still heart-warming to have this event organised where we could catch up with one another and get into the festive spirit.’’
DBTH has over 200 volunteers across its 3 sites. If you would like to get involved, please call 01302 644403 or go to: www.dbth.nhs.uk/join-the-team/volunteering/