Volunteers’ amazing work during second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic
Kettering General Hospital’s dedicated volunteers are working to support front-line staff during the height of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The hospital currently has 86 active volunteers working in a variety of ways to support staff with food and drink, medication deliveries, and, very importantly, the Covid vaccination programme.
KGH’s Volunteer Manager, Christine Hardy, said: “Our volunteers are doing an amazing job in supporting our front-line staff at a time when they are under the most extreme pressure.
“One great example of the way they have adapted to support staff is their involvement in the hospital’s Covid vaccination programme.
“Our volunteers were very keen to get involved in this and we now have a rota which enables ten volunteers to work each day supporting the vaccination centre seven-days-a-week.
“They are doing things like directing and greeting people on arrival, doing temperature checks for Covid, helping with paper work and data entry and helping set follow-up appointments.
“They are part of a larger team in the vaccination centre made up of ambulance service volunteers, KGH staff volunteers and some members of our team who have been released to work in the centre.”
Judy Mitchell, from Kettering, is currently volunteering in both A&E and the vaccination centre.
She said: “The Vaccine hub is an utter joy, with everyone working so hard but enjoying being part of it.
“Recipients are all really grateful and the whole operation is very slick.
“Without exception it is the happiest working environment I've ever encountered, and thanks to the volunteering manager and her team for making this happen. We get a lot of positive feedback from those being vaccinated and I wouldn't miss it for anything.”
Ways in which volunteers are supporting KGH staff include:
- Staff meals service – taking meals to front-line staff to take home and eat in the evenings
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Care Courier service - a patient belongings delivery service ensuring people can have their own clothes and other personal items delivered to them while in hospital
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Supporting our We Care Café – a socially distanced area where staff can unwind and have a free drink. Our volunteers have been very important in supporting – and continuing to support – this venture
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Pharmacy drivers and runners – delivering medications to shielding patients at home, and delivering medications directly to our wards. Up to half of all medications are now delivered to our teams by volunteers to free-up front-line staff.
Kettering General Hospital’s Acting Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, Paula Kirkpatrick, said: “Our volunteers are playing an incredibly important role supporting our staff in the most difficult of times.
“They are cheerful, hard-working and are great ambassadors for the hospital.
“They help our staff directly – through things like vaccinations, the meals service and We Care Café – and help enhance the patient experience through the Care Courier Service and medication delivery services.
“Their support is also symbolic of the support of our local community which is good for staff morale.
“And I just want to repeat the message that all local people can support us by doing things which reduce the spread of the virus by staying at home, thinking hands, face, and space, and observing all of the lock-down rules.”