End of life volunteers making a valuable difference at Alexandra Hospital

Caring volunteers who provide comfort and support to patients at or nearing the end of their lives have been praised for the difference they are making, just weeks after the new service began at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Since July, three specialist Peony Volunteers have been providing bedside companionship to patients in their final days and hours, and practical and emotional support to their loved ones three mornings a week.

Over the last few weeks, the Peony End of Life Volunteer Service – which is sponsored by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity and works in partnership with national charity, The Anne Robson Trust – has enabled the Peony Volunteers to visit more than 40 patients, and provide almost 18 hours of bedside support, with hospital staff and families praising their kindness and compassion.

The service was officially launched at the Alexandra Hospital last week (October 1) and follows the huge success of the launch of the service at Worcestershire Royal Hospital last year. It is hoped the service will expand to five days a week in the new year.

At the official launch of the service on Thursday, October 1, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s Peony Volunteer Coordinator, Rachel Colthurst, said: “It’s exciting to have been given the opportunity to take on the Palliative Care Team’s vision to provide bedside company and compassion for those who find themselves in hospital in their final days, and make it a reality with the help of our caring and generous-spirited Peony Volunteers.

“Their willingness to serve with such kindness and commitment is a gift to our patients, their loved ones, and the Palliative Care Team as a whole. In just a few weeks it is clear what a huge difference the Peony End of Life Volunteers are making at the Alexandra Hospital, and we are absolutely delighted that they are now in post.”

Avril Adams, Lead Nurse for Palliative Care, said: “We’re committed to high quality, supported, co-ordinated and individualised care for our end-of-life patients and those important to them. As part of this we have a ‘SUPPORT’ campaign in place which aims to highlight the small, practical things that can be done to support them – such as dedicated quiet spaces, changes to visiting, and access to helpful items such as toiletry bags and night lights. Our Peony volunteers are fully supporting and embodying this approach.”

Janet Neate, Volunteer Manager, said: “It has been wonderful to extend the scope of volunteering within the Trust to include the support and care of our end-of-life patients in this way. The care and compassion of our Peony Volunteers has shown again just how invaluable our volunteer roles are, and what a difference they make to the quality of care we provide as a Trust.”

To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust visit: www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/volunteer, email: [email protected] or call 01905 733159.