Volunteers contribute to patient care and support families.  Volunteering can be defined as an “activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment of individuals or groups other than (or in addition to) close relatives”, (Manifesto for Change, The Commission on the Future of Volunteering, 2008).  Volunteers within palliative care are not a new idea with over 100,000 people volunteering throughout the UK within Hospice buildings.

As far as I am aware there are no figures for the number of volunteers within services such as ours, providing Hospice care within peoples own homes, however the number will be significantly lower. Hospice at Home first introduced the concept of using volunteers in 2004 following the recruitment of the Bereavement Support Service Co-ordinator, Barbara Kirkwood. Barbara was recruited in July and worked alongside the Team Leader and myself to implement the model to be used, recruit and provide training to six volunteers.  An important aspect contributing to the success of the service is the commitment shown by these volunteers not only to the individuals they see but to continued training, willingness to attend  meetings and participate in an annual review of their practice. It is an indication of the value they place on their work that five of the original six are still working with the service.  

It is due to this commitment and the very positive feedback from individuals who use the service that we have extended the role of volunteers into both the nursing and complementary therapy services.  In total we have 17 volunteers working across the services.  Although the actual time a volunteer spends with an individual is not financially rewarded the service ensures that mileage is paid for any activity undertaken.  If you would like any information about the role of a volunteer within any part of the Clinical Services please contact me.

Fiona Stobart

Clinical Services Manager