Mission impossible, became the mission possible thanks to five special volunteers
6th November 2020
Submitted by Sharon Herring, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are five volunteers who particularly stand out as having gone the extra mile for us with their dedication and commitment to supporting us in whatever we needed and through the sheer number of hours they gave up each week to help us through some of our most difficult and challenging times. Vanessa and Laurence (husband and wife team), Tim, Keith and Robert were shining examples of what an amazing contribution volunteers can make and how their passion for supporting the hospital meant they went well above what was expected.
During the pandemic, we paused most of our usual volunteering roles and just focused on a few key existing and new roles which we felt were vitally important to support the smooth running of the Trust. This included blood running - taking blood samples from our Emergency Department to our Pathology laboratory while our air pod system was unavailable. Running our newly set up staff wellbeing centre to enable staff to take a break from the challenges of the ward. Delivering goodie boxes to all departments to fairly distribute the kind donations we received from the public. Pharmacy running – continuing an existing role to deliver medicines from our pharmacy department to the wards. Community driving – delivering and collecting items from across the county to help staff in their clinical work, for example, collecting unused respiratory machines or delivering medicines to patients unable to attend the hospital.
These five remarkable volunteers quickly responded to our need to fill rotas and get help immediately. They were all willing to cover additional shifts for fellow volunteers and could be called on often at short notice to help out with whatever tasks we needed doing. They always helped with a smile on their face and we are so grateful for the support they have given staff and patients. Their help enabled treatment to patients faster by delivering medicines and samples quickly to where they were needed; enhancing staff wellbeing through the wellbeing centre and delivery of goodie boxes thanking staff on behalf of the community; or collecting and delivering vital equipment across the county to where it was needed.
These five volunteers gave the Trust over 60 hours of their precious time and commitment every week during the pandemic, as well as additional hours of community driving, which sometimes took several hours driving around the county. This dedication and commitment to the Trust during this difficult time is incredible. To get so much support was extraordinary and they deserve to be recognised for their selfless commitment. There were many more volunteers who helped in so many ways during the pandemic and they are all amazing, but these individuals have gone above and beyond our expectations.
Vanessa and Laurence are an amazing husband and wife team who help in so many ways. When the pandemic started, they ran our newly set up staff wellbeing centre together two nights a week, and before their wellbeing shifts, often spent several hours delivering goody boxes to the wards. Overall we delivered over 120 goody boxes to departments over several weeks and they delivered at least two thirds of these. They also did several shifts in the blood running role. At the height of the pandemic they were volunteering for 22 hours of regular shifts over 5 days a week and were always happy to do more! They are always smiling and nothing is too much trouble for them.
Tim Gill was previously a pharmacy runner taking medicines to the wards. During Covid19, he continued to do this but simultaneously also did blood running for seven hours every week. This is very demanding with so much walking involved. He also worked in our wellbeing centre two days a week, taking one of the late shifts which went on till midnight, and was one of our community drivers. Tim always offers to cover extra shifts if we have a gap and has continued to be a much valued volunteer. He supports new volunteers to learn their roles and provides advice on how to improve new or existing roles. Tim was doing over 15 hours of regular volunteering over three days a week at the peak of the pandemic.
Robert De Croos (left) and Keith Burden (right) have been both blood runners and community drivers since COVID19 began. Robert offered to do four shifts a week blood running, doing the unsociable evening and weekend shifts. He has also done over 40 community driving jobs, often going to the furthest distances, and we always felt we could ask him to go anywhere. Keith was a relatively new volunteer to the Trust, having been an ex-patient. Despite physical mobility challenges, during Covid19 he just wanted to help. He did one eight hour shift blood running on his day off from work each week and often helped with ward deliveries in-between blood runs. He also did many community driving jobs, again going long distances for us. He takes great joy from ‘giving something back’ and he spreads this joy to everyone he meets.
Quotes from staff to show the impact volunteers had helping in these roles:
“Absolutely fantastic work done by our volunteer blood runners who have supported clinical practice, by ensuring timely turnaround of blood samples taken to labs and results back in a quick time. This help has meant that patients have had a shorter time in the department reducing their anxiety and worries and meaning their treatments were completed quicker and discharged sooner! Thank you! A great asset to the team.” (Lead Sister A&E)
“What was the mission impossible, became the mission possible thanks to our volunteers – we could not have done this without them.” (Service Manager Acute)
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