Volunteer Roles

• Hospital Ward Role/Meal Time Assistant
• Meet and Greet
• Patients' Library
• Eye Clinic
• Cancer Services

Hospital Ward Role/Meal Time Assistant

Volunteer’s Generic Ward Role – Please note that variations may occur depending on each wards specialities.

Whilst volunteers can participate in the daily functioning of a hospital ward performing complimentary duties (see volunteer’s description of further duties below)

A key part of any volunteer’s role will be their participation in patient’s meal times. Volunteer Mealtime Assistants will support ward teams to deliver individual help to patients at mealtimes. The volunteer role will focus on:

• Preparing for mealtimes
• Providing help and assistance to patients at mealtimes
• Offering encouragement and support
• Being an advocate for patients
• Being part of the ward team and providing feedback to the ward staff

Volunteers Description of further duties they may participate in:

• Meeting and greeting visitors to the ward / helping with directions to hospital main entrance, restaurant, car parks etc.
• Running errands for nursing staff, housekeeper and receptionist (this may include taking medical records to other wards or departments.)
• Answering telephones and taking messages
• Photocopying
• Making up admission packs
• Tidying patient areas e.g. Day Room
• Tidying storage areas
• Helping to make beds
• Assisting housekeeper e.g. Helping with non-clinical duties
• Talking to patients This is seen as an important role
• Helping patients with the menu choice
• Escorting patients– wheelchairs Pushing Training is provided
• Making drinks for patients/relatives as directed by nursing staff

Meet and Greet

Help create a friendly, welcoming and helpful environment at Nottingham University Hospitals.  To offer directional advice and practical assistance as required by patients and visitors in collaboration with other ‘front of house’ personnel.

We currently have three Hospital Campus, volunteers can choose from to perform Meet and Greet duties at. The City Hospital Campus, Queens medical Centre Campus and Ropewalk House

Core Duties

• To display a helpful, friendly and courteous attitude to patients, visitors, staff and colleagues
• To act as a contact point welcoming people into the hospital entrances on a flexible basis.
• To provide clear and accurate directional information to help people find their destination.
• To escort people to their destination as appropriate.
• To respond to requests from wards or departments to collect and escort visitors to the appropriate exit.
• To respond to requests from reception areas, wards or departments to collect/deliver parcels/packages.
• To provide information on all local amenities such as toilets, restaurants, public transport etc.
• To record statistics concerning service usage.
• To refer to appropriate member of staff as per the Trust’s guidelines if help is required which is outside the remit of this role.
• To attend regular training sessions as required.

Patients' Library

To provide a mobile library service to patients on wards on both NUH Campuses. Assist the librarian as required in the library if based on QMC Campus.

Volunteer’s Description of duties:

• To select books and load a trolley to take to the wards
• To issue books to patients and accept returns
• To liaise with ward staff to verify home address to chase missing books
• To unload trolley in library shelving books on the appropriate shelving
• To assist in general good housekeeping duties in the library
• To assist with clerical duties as necessary
• The library services on the QMC Campus hours are, Monday to Thursday from 1.00pm until 4.00pm.
• City Hospital Campus Library Service Hours are varied as the library service operates directly from the voluntary services office.

Eye Clinic Volunteers

The Eye Clinic On the QMC Campus is house in the dedicated Ear, Nose and Throat Building attached to the rear of the Hospital.

Volunteer’s Role - Description of duties:

• Run errands for nursing staff, and receptionists – includes taking medical records to other departments.
• Sorting results into alphabetical order.  NOT filing notes
• Photo-coping
• Patient tracking sheet – sort into date order
• Directing relatives / visitors to Main Entrance, restaurant etc.
• Talking to patients
• Escort walking patients to other areas in clinic and to other departments – with or without patients notes.
• Tidying patient areas – eg: magazines in department

Cancer Services Volunteers

There are many important roles within Cancer Services including the Breast Care results clinic and other specialised outpatient’s clinics as well as the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre.

The Centre trains its volunteers to assist the Cancer Information Specialist Team with the efficient running of the Centre. They provide a welcoming ‘walk in’ enquiry service, answer the telephone, provide literature about Macmillan Cancer Support and send information to callers. Volunteers are also encouraged to support promotional activities throughout the Trust.

Please note that a majority of Cancer Services volunteer roles are based on our City Campus site. For further information or an informal chat about any of the above roles please contact the City Hospital Voluntary Services co-ordinator.