COVID Response Volunteer – Shopper at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital

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28th June 2021

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COVID-19 Response Volunteer positions were created to enable volunteers in a variety of roles to continue to support their communities safely throughout the pandemic. One such role – a shopper at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital – offers an invaluable shopping service to patients while enabling staff to carry on with their core duties.

The role was introduced at the Volunteer Hub in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH). The Volunteer Hub, established in 2008, is a project delivered by Volunteer Edinburgh, which is unique in engaging both patients and members of the public in volunteering. The hospital provides psychiatric and mental health services, including support for learning disabilities, dementia, forensic psychiatry and a range of other specialised services.

The time patients spend in the hospital varies, with some being inpatients for a number of years. Whether a patient volunteers themselves, or are matched with a public volunteer, all Hub activities are designed to support patients to achieve specific treatment and recovery goals. Volunteer roles and activities were created in a person-centred way to match patients’ needs, abilities and aspirations. This ensures they have the greatest chance of success, despite the challenges they face with their illness.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic all patient-facing volunteer roles and activities had to stand down. For the first time in the history of the Hub volunteers were asked to provide a distanced service for patients rather than carrying out relationship based activities.

The COVID-19 Response Shopper role was created to allow public volunteers who were able to continue volunteering to provide a much-valued shopping service for patients. Shoppers collect lists and money from staff who have gathered them from the wards and try to purchase everything on the lists, before delivering the items and change back to the ward. Due to lower staff numbers and no hospital visits the shopping service has enabled staff to carry on with their duties and has had a huge impact on patient morale.

The COVID-19 pandemic has broadened the reach of the Volunteer Hub within the hospital and more wards have been using its services. Given the many challenges to the NHS during the pandemic, the benefits of volunteering have never mattered more.

The full story can be read here.

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