75 year-old Robert urges others to volunteer their expertise and time to help build and protect the NHS

“When the Telford new town was built, there originally weren’t any plans for a hospital. So there was an action committee and pressure group formed, which I was part of,” he recalls. “I kind of feel like I’ve been involved with the hospital from day one.”

Over the years he has seen both sides of the NHS, as a patient himself and as someone deeply invested in its future.

“I’m a lifelong supporter of the National Health Service, which clearly needs help wherever it can get,” he says.

That sense of connection never left him, and when he spotted a poster at A&E one night asking for volunteer drivers, it felt like the right next step. “I thought—that might be something I’d be skilled at and would enjoy doing.”

The role is simple on the surface—driving patients home after they’ve been discharged—but the impact is anything but. “One of the primary drivers for our scheme was to try and ensure that discharges happen quickly. Bed-blocking is a major issue,” Robert explains.

Since starting in May, he has made countless journeys, sometimes staying well beyond his scheduled shift to make sure patients don’t face long delays. “There was one evening, just as I was about to leave, when I was asked to take someone to another hospital an hour away. The hospital transport couldn’t get there until 10 o’clock. That would have meant four extra hours waiting for a bed. I was glad I could step in.”

What makes the role so rewarding for him is not just the practical help, but the people. “The team of nurses in the discharge lounge are just fantastic—so welcoming. They very quickly made me feel part of the team,” he says. “And the patients—they’re just very, very grateful and very happy to express their gratitude.” He laughs when he adds: “I jokingly say all the nurses and healthcare assistants twist me round their little finger.”

Robert is no stranger to volunteering. Since retiring, he has given his time to the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, the SS Great Britain in Bristol, and the Canal & River Trust. “I’ve had a lifetime of expertise, which is reasonably unique. It would be wasted if I didn’t pass it on,” he says. But his work with the hospital feels different. “I come home tired, but in a good way. Happiness and a sense of fulfilment—that’s what I’ve gained.”

He is also thoughtful about the role of volunteers in the wider healthcare system. “The last thing I want is to be taking work away from people who need it,” he admits. Before accepting the role, he even asked ambulance drivers what they thought. “They weren’t bothered. They were very supportive. The NHS needs all the help it can get.”

For Robert, volunteering is about being part of something bigger, a way of giving back to a service he has trusted his whole life. His advice to others thinking about volunteering is straightforward: “Don’t be put off by the training—it can feel like a rigmarole. But persevere, because it’s absolutely worth it.”

What keeps him going is the same feeling he had when he first joined that action group all those years ago—the sense that he’s helping to build and protect something vital. “Most people love the NHS,” he says. “And this is one way of giving back.”

Robert’s story is a reminder that volunteers aren’t just a “nice-to-have.” They are an integral part of keeping the system moving, easing pressure on staff, and above all, making sure patients feel cared for right to the very end of their hospital journey.

Inspired by tens and thousands of volunteers like Robert, who wish to volunteer for the NHS to give back, Helpforce has launched a three-year campaign 'Giving Back, Transforming Care' to inspire national conversations, foster deeper public engagement and shift perceptions of healthcare volunteering from a 'nice to have' to a strategic imperative. Learn more about this ambitious campaign here.