Priceless support from hospital heroes Allie and David during Covid-19
12th November 2020
Submitted by Jane Mills, Barnsley Hospital Charity
During the Covid-19 pandemic at Barnsley Hospital Allie Hunton and David Armitage have volunteered almost seven days each a week. Putting themselves forward at the outset they have been at the heart of the hospital response to the pandemic and we cannot thank them enough for being such humble and selfless humans.
Allie and David have maintained permanent smiles, super positive outlooks and have gone over and above in their voluntary role to keep our service running. Developing new ways of working, contributed to decision making and keeping our service providing vital support.
They have undertaken a huge variety of roles. Distributing donations for staff and patients, kept our staff wobble room topped up with treats (the wobble room is where staff can go for ‘time out’ if the stresses and strains get too much), supporting patients with tablet devices enabling them to video and telephone call family and friends (as visitors to the hospital were not allowed), managing patient property to ensure that it met infection control procedures, supporting the distribution of welfare packs, allocating scrubs to clinical staff and distributing face coverings. They collected donations from individuals in the community who wanted to play their part but were unable to drop items off. Acted sensitively and with the greatest of compassion through the most difficult situations. Managed patient property, cleaning and disinfecting it and following infection control procedures. Currently they are supporting the distribution of face coverings to patients and visitors to the hospital and helping us to continue to raise vital funds by raising awareness of our charity.
We also have a virtual group of charity volunteers; Allie and David have contributed to keeping the spirits up of our volunteers who were shielding because of their age and medical conditions, sharing jokes and having a good laugh. In addition to volunteering at the charity they have also been shopping and buying small gifts for the other volunteers.
They have distributed over £70,000 worth of donations to support our 4,062 staff and patients – boosting morale and keeping everyone going through one of the toughest times our generation has faced. Allocated 3,800 sets of scrubs for clinical staff, 2,400 loungewear sets, 4,000 hand creams and 700 lip balms, 17,300 drinks and snacks and 69 tablets.
The charity has also provided grocery, fruit and vegetable packs for staff; Allie and David helped in delivering over 500 of these over a 2 hour period.
Feedback from patients has been tremendous and they have received thanks and praise for helping keep loved ones in touch. A member of the public contacted us to say that "their support was priceless” enabling her to say her final goodbye to her father in the hospital.
The peer support that Allie and David have shown to their colleague volunteers who are shielding has also been remarkable. Margaret, one of our shielding volunteers said: "Allie is a true hero and friend, she has kept my spirits up, brought me shopping, jigsaws, flowers, we have laughed and cried and shared a special bond through her kindness and generosity. I have been shielding since the start of the pandemic and have been amazed at the efforts of Allie and David; they have been hospital heroes!"
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