Retired nurse Susan continues to help others

Submitted by Claire Finn, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Susan Jeffrey is one of our existing volunteers and has been with us for five years. When she retired as a nurse she had lots of hobbies; however, she wanted to put her experiences working with people to good use.

Her usual role is to help out with winter pressures on the ward at The Northumbria hospital in Cramlington, carrying out duties such as befriending patients, helping at breakfast times with meals and drinks, making beds and lots more. She also regularly volunteered at our hospital shop at Wansbeck.

When the Covid Pandemic started we had to stop our volunteers from carrying out duties on the wards due to the risk. However, Susan got in touch to ask if there was anything else she could do to help as she really wanted to volunteer and support the NHS at this time. As many of our volunteers were over 70 and had to step down there were lots of shifts available at the hospital café. So Susan came in five days a week to keep the café/shop open to provide a service to staff and patients. This was an invaluable service for us and Susan said ‘being a volunteer and helping others gives her a purpose in life. It’s very rewarding and gives me a sense of fulfilment’.

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