The Trust’s volunteers work across three hospital sites in Doncaster, Mexborough and Worksop, giving up their time to support the thousands of staff, patients and visitors who visit DBTH each year. Helping out on wards, clinics and libraries to name just a few areas, volunteers are often the first contact visitors have, contributing a staggering 38,000 hours annually.
Volunteers at the Trust help out in so many different ways, such as a role introduced last year to provide comfort and company to patients in their final moments. ‘Butterfly Volunteers’ are specially trained to sit and talk to patients or offer respite to the patient’s loved ones who may wish to go home for a couple of hours but are reassured and safe in the knowledge their loved ones are not alone.
Suzy Brain England OBE, Chair of the Board, attending the brunches to personally thank the volunteers for the time they generously donate to help services go above and beyond at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Montagu Hospital and Bassetlaw Hospital.
Suzy said: “We rely upon our volunteers to provide assistance where we otherwise cannot. Their compassion and dedication to the Trust is impressive and appreciated. They support thousands of patients who pass through our doors every day. We always appreciate this vital contribution, especially around Christmas time, when we dedicate more time to seeing our friends and family.
Volunteers on the main reception desk at Bassetlaw Hospital, Brigitte Williams and Irene Newby, who between them have volunteered at the Trust for 31 years, said: “Thank you to the Trust for hosting such a lovely event. It was lovely to see so many of our colleagues together catching up and enjoying the festivities. We love our role on main reception greeting our patients and visitors as they arrive at the hospital and helping them, whether it’s directing them to a department or ward or organising taxis for our patients to get home, we get so much fulfilment and joy out of the role.”
Thank you to Greencore of Worksop for their generosity in supplying sandwiches for the events.
If you’re interested in volunteering contact the team on, tel: 01302 644403 or go to: www.dbth.nhs.uk/join-the-team/volunteering/