From lockdown, right through to today, our volunteers have been on the front line
13th November 2020
Submitted by Martyn Hosie, Beatson Cancer Charity
I want to pay tribute to all the amazing people who have volunteered at the Beatson over the last six months. What a team! Right from the off, it was clear that our Beatson volunteers and those who joined us after answering the call to support the NHS, were offering to help in any way they could.
Even in really extreme circumstances, when we didn’t really know how volunteers would be helping, they stepped up so that the patients and the staff got whatever support they needed. More than that they did it selflessly, with great compassion and kindness. For that, we will always be grateful. They never stopped caring. They have been working tirelessly to support our cancer patients, their families and the wonderful NHS staff at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.
The impact of the Coronavirus and lockdown on our services, the patients and the hospital has been vast. Throughout the pandemic we have had to adapt and at speed, and our volunteers have been helping day in, day out.
We set up Hand Hygiene Stations at the entrances to the hospital to ensure that all patients, emergency services, staff and visitors are following infection control protocols before entering the hospital. All of our patients have compromised immune systems so this is vitally important. Our volunteers became the first line of defence in keeping patients safe.
When visiting was prohibited, they also managed our Give and Go service allowing family and loved ones to deliver belongings to patients and to collect their laundry. Having a few personal items and clean clothes can make a stay in hospital that little bit more comfortable.
They made up care packs for patients in the hospital as well as discharge packs for patients getting home. With shielding in place, the discharge packs provided free food, drinks, toiletries and face masks for patients going home. This made sure that they had some vital supplies to take home.
As part of our COVID response, we set up a telephone befriending service which is freely available to inpatients, outpatients, carers as well as those who have completed their cancer treatment who are in need of someone to talk too. This has been a great comfort to people affected by cancer as it has really helped with anxiety, stress, worry and social isolation. Our volunteers are providing weekly telephone support and friendship when they need it the most.
Our volunteers are also supporting the Beatson Café to provide food and refreshments to staff, patients and visitors. We have completely overhauled and refitted our Café to ensure we are operating to the highest infection control and COVID secure standards. Our volunteers have been at the heart of this too.
We want the volunteers to realise what a positive difference they have made to many by being there for them, now and in the future.
Against a backdrop of Stay Home, Save Lives, our volunteers put other peoples’ needs and health before their own. Since the start of April they have donated 2,185 hours of their own time. The impact of their volunteering is so much more than numbers! We received a thank you card from a patient which read:
“To all my volunteer friends, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for coming in each day, giving willingly of your time. What you are doing may feel boring when you sit on ‘that seat’, but you are helping to keep each staff member and patient safe. You give us the confidence to come for our treatment. You are saving lives. You are valuable members of The Beatson that is keeping us all alive. THANK YOU!”
And another patient:
“Just to thank everyone who sat at the main entrance, ensuring that all the patients used the hand sanitiser. You were all so nice and pleasant every day. I attended for 5 weeks and you were always there. Keep up the good work! And stay safe. Love and best wishes for the future.”
What is so powerful about these messages in the context. These are cards from patients, during a pandemic, who had to come for cancer treatment, during lockdown, who were so grateful for the support from the volunteers they bought cards.
Think about that for a moment. With all their worries about their own health, COVID19, shielding and the impact of treatment, they took the time to say thanks.
Similarly with the NHS team too. Even with all the pressures they were under, we received messages of thanks from medical teams within The Beatson. One examples below read:
“All of our patients and team are so thankful to Lewis for all his care, support, hard work and help he has given. We appreciate him. Lovely lad was noted from patients for his lovely friendly positive outlook. Thank you.”
More astonishingly, the volunteers thanked us for giving them the opportunity to help. This is a real testament to just how humble and selfless volunteers are:
“To the Beatson Volunteer team and The Beatson Staff I would like to extend my thanks to you all for allowing me to volunteer and play a role in your fantastic team. The work carried out by all the staff at The Beatson is amazing and to the highest levels of professionalism. I am honoured and privileged that I could be part of it. I wish you the best of luck for the future and I hope I can have the opportunity to work alongside you again.”
The strongest evidence of the difference the volunteers make is from the patients who say “Thank you, you’ve been a big help”. “I was so worried about coming in, it’s nice to see people here to make sure we are okay, thanks for looking after us”. This happens every single day at the Beatson because our volunteers are just so special.
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