Note: This list is not exhaustive and can be expanded or cut down, in response to the changing needs of your hospital in the face of COVID-19. As the needs increase we would encourage you to think innovatively and expand the tasks performed by volunteers.

Befriending: spending time with patients who do not have many/any visitors. This could include playing games, reading or any other activity. Patients might also be elderly and like to reminisce – there are specific activities available on the ward for patients with dementia
Helping patients to call and face time their families and friends
Ensuring patient water jugs are full
Escorting patients to different departments within the hospital for bloods tests, scans and x-rays as instructed by medical staff
Supporting the nurses with pharmacy collections
Providing patients and visitors with tea, coffee and other refreshments and ensuring water jugs are full
Helping patients visit the coffee shops within the hospital
Brushing patients’ hair (only if you feel comfortable doing so)
Fetching extra pillows or blankets for patients if they would like (checking with staff first)
Assisting the physio team with patients recovery – although you are not expected to do any special lifting or use any specialist equipment or harnesses. This could include encouraging patients with their exercises
Cleaning – this will only involve light cleaning such as keeping the day room tidy or some light dusting
Bed changing
Deliveries to and from the lab

Volunteers will also have a key role to play during mealtimes:

Helping distribute the meals to patients
Sitting with patients at meal times, to socialise and normalise eating and to encourage those who require it to try a little more food or fluid
Sitting with patients who may need prompting to eat, such as those with dementia or those who need additional encouragement
Ensuring that a patient can reach their food, fluids and utensils
Assisting a patient by placing their food onto the fork or spoon for them to eat
Assisting with cutting up of food or refilling of fluids
Patient feeding – only with training and supervision. Something that you may consider at a later stage, should COVID-19 demands grow
Helping patients to brush their teeth after meals. This does not involve brushing their teeth for them. But some may need their toothbrush and toothpaste getting ready as they are recovering from strokes and may have weakness on one side

Ward Helper volunteer role description