Patient feeding volunteers make a welcome return to help at hospital
Volunteer feeding buddies have returned to help patients across wards at Southend Hospital, after a break of almost two years.
Feeding buddies help to feed patients, chat to them if they have no visitors and help patients use Facetime on iPads to contact friends and family.
Also back are our ward liaison volunteers who help take messages and run errands for staff, including taking samples to laboratories.
Volunteers have been an important part of the hospital since 2007 and their return comes after rules on visiting our hospitals have been relaxed as the Covid pandemic eases. And they are thrilled to be back.
Jane O’Connell, voluntary services lead for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to see so many familiar faces and welcome new recruits to this rewarding role. Friendly volunteers on the ward really benefit patients, and help out ward staff as well.”
All volunteers undergo refresher training and complete a risk assessment before being placed on a ward, and they also take a lateral flow test before they report for duty.
Currently, feeding buddies and ward liaison volunteers are only at Southend Hospital, but it is hoped the roles will be introduced to both Basildon and Broomfield hospitals as well.
If you are interested in volunteering for these roles, please send your name and telephone number to mse.msevolunteers@nhs.net and someone from the volunteer service team will call you.