Our book trolley

Amazed by Attwood? Gripped by Grisham? Or do you have a craving Cooper?
Good news for our patients with a literary bent as our Volunteering team have relaunched their book trolley. Staffed by volunteers, they visit our in-patients to offer them a book to read, or the option of taking an entertaining activity pack. The activity pack contains sudoku puzzles, crosswords and colouring pages.
The Volunteers team have worked with our Library service to pull together a helpful guide to download free eBooks, audiobooks and newsletters. Our volunteers are on hand to help patients use these free downloadable options.
The trolley currently runs across KGH between Monday to Sunday. The team follow a regular route through our hospital, or they can be asked to visit a ward by colleagues.
The Volunteers service runs across University Hospitals of Northampton. At KGH this is managed by Volunteer Coordinator Mihaela.
In 2019 Mihaela joined the Volunteers team as a volunteer in an admin position, before applying for a permanent position with the team.
“I love interacting with people and making their journey through the hospital easier.
From helping people get their appointments to making their time here more enjoyable, that’s the value our volunteers bring”
The books on offer cover lots of genres, so there should be something for everyone while they’re staying with us. Because length of stay differs for each patient, we don’t want them to miss out on the thrilling ending to a story, so we are happy for them to take the books home and keep them.
“The best bit of the job is when we get a call from one of our volunteers to say they now have a job working in the hospital and this was down to the experience the received as a volunteer job here due to experience as volunteer. It’s so rewarding to be just a small part in their story.” Adds Mihaela.
The Volunteering team are looking to expand the hours of the book trolley service – and you could help. If you have time to spare to volunteer on the book trolley. Then we’d love to hear from you. Or if you have any books you’d like to donate, please contact the team directly.