Basildon and Thurrock Hospital Voluntary Services

Welcome to the Voluntary Services Department at Mid and South Essex (MSE) Hospitals. The MSE group is made up of Basildon, Broomfield and Southend Hospitals. Thank you for choosing Basildon Hospital to volunteer.

We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to individuals like you who are eager to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families. As a hospital volunteer, you have the unique opportunity to be a source of comfort, support, and compassion during times of need.

As a volunteer you will become a member of a dedicated team that aims to support hospital staff to provide the highest quality standards of care to patients. Your assistance with tasks like providing directions, helping with paperwork, or simply offering a friendly smile can ease the workload of our staff members, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

The volunteering positions which we currently have available are:

• Meet and greet role - involves wayfinding and assisting patients to their appointments when necessary.
• Ward Liaison – To assist and compliment the work of staff at Basildon hospital for the benefit of patients. Supporting Ward Staff by running errands and carrying out Friends and Family surveys.
• Dementia Befriender – Provide companionship to dementia patients and to just be a friendly face who they can talk to when they are a bit lonely. Play puzzles and games with them and to help the staff on the wards with errands.
• Mealtime Companion – Providing help and assistance to patients who require additional support to eat their meal
• Reablement Volunteer - Supporting the ward team by engaging and motivating patients with activities aimed at increasing their mobility, independence, and functional wellbeing. Helping patients re-learn the daily skills required to enhance their standard of living as they begin their journey home from hospital.
• Gardening Volunteer – supporting the hospital grounds with any gardening needs (e.g. pulling out weeds and planting flowers)

Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or considering this as your first step, we invite you to join our dedicated team of caring individuals. Together, we can create a brighter and healthier future for our community. Your time and commitment are invaluable to us, and we can't wait to have you on board.