The acts of kindness, tenacity, and bravery of these volunteers has been mind blowing
12th November 2020
Submitted by Nancy Whiskin, Barts Health Trust
When the Covid-19 pandemic first started my initial thoughts were how can I, as Head of Volunteers for Bart's Health Trust, possibly put volunteers at risk by asking them to volunteer?
It was a very challenging time and lots of questions were asked and some soul searching as I knew volunteers would be such an important part of business continuity. And I instinctively knew that local people would want to play a part and support their Local Hospital and community.
Within two weeks and with the support of my amazing voluntary services staff team we were able to start receiving and processing applications from volunteers who completely understood the risks, but still courageously put themselves forward to help. Using our Helpforce response innovation model we were able to put into action our Covid-19 Volunteers response team and safely support the numerous requests from staff, patients and visitors that started to come through.
Throughout the last 3-4 months the Covid-19 Volunteer Response Team across the four hospitals have been incredible. They have tirelessly delivered meals and donations to the staff unable to leave the wards, have been at the front of house supporting visitors in tears unable to see their loved ones. They have searched for bereaved property and worked to reunite it with the next of kin. Made PPE and relocated wards moving key bits of equipment and other items. Ironed labels on to scrubs for the Nightingale and provided support to staff in the well-being hubs. The sheer acts of kindness, the tenacity and bravery of these volunteers has been mind blowing. I am deeply emotional as I write this and feel that I cannot put into words how much these volunteers have done to support Barts Health and the community.
Not a day goes by when I am not stopped by members of staff and people telling me how amazing the volunteers have been and how much they have helped and supported during this difficult and terrible time.
Everything they have done to help and assist has been without complaint just an eagerness to do what is needed and get the job done. Often using their initiative and thinking outside of the box to provide a responsive service to visitors and patients. For example: setting up a WhatsApp group so that they can provide flexible and adequate cover.
The Covid-19 Response Volunteer team are thoroughly deserving of recognition just for their courage alone let alone their achievements. They are truly inspirational.
The quantifiable difference that these volunteers have made to support the Pandemic includes:
- 61,000 meals delivered to wards.
- 2200 items taken up to wards from visitors for patients.
- 100 Ipads delivered to wards for patients so they can contact their loved ones.
- 5,000 scrubs sorted ironed and labelled for Nightingale and delivered to wards.
- 1,000 visors made.
- 11 ward relocation and equipment delivery.
- 200+ belongings bereaved property reunited with next of kin.
- 3 x Staff well-being centres set up and supported by volunteers for 86 days and counting.
- Thousands and thousands of donations taken around and given out to staff.
- Patient, visitor screening and infection control adherence at front entrances.
- Escorting visitors to see the very unwell and vulnerable patients.
- Follow-up call to discharged patients that are vulnerable and linking them to community volunteers if they needed support.
- Administering the "send a message to a loved one".
- Providing the administration support for the staff fit testing on 3 sites.
- Acting as runners for Medications to take home and others.
The positive feedback we have received has been immeasurable but here are some of the comments:
"Working with the response volunteers has been beautiful" - Ros from Bereavement Services
"The volunteers are worth their weight in gold."
"I couldn't have managed without the volunteers' support."
“Thank you to the volunteers for the support in fit testing." Alistair Chesser Chief Medical Officer
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