Volunteering

A&E Patient Experience Volunteer

Your main role will be to ensure patients are offered hot drinks in the Ambulatory Majors Area in our A&E Department at St Thomas' Hospital.  This volunteer role is suited to a person over the age of 21 who is physically fit, confident and has a mature personality. The department is extremely busy at times which means the volunteer should be able to function under pressure if required.  It must be made clear that you are not allowed to shadow medical staff whilst carrying out this role nor have contact with clinical samples or bodily fluids.  

Tasks and activities:

•    To distribute sandwiches and hot drinks to patients if required
•    Hand out Friends and Family Feedback forms and help patients to complete if               necessary
•    Collect completed Friends and Family cards and pop them in the feedback boxes          located around the department
•    To be warm and friendly with patients and relatives in the waiting 
•    To sign post patients to other appropriate areas of the hospital
•    To answer any general queries and direct them to an appropriate member of staff if        more detailed information is required
•    To act as a navigator for patients and visitors, orientating them round the                       department
•    To alert staff to anyone requiring extra attention – if a patient looks like they are              about to collapse or are unsteady on their feet please let a member of the team            know ASAP.

Skills & abilities:

•    Physically able as will be required to stand and walk around 
•    Ability to work as part of a team and to work on your own initiative
•    Excellent knowledge and use of the English language
•    Excellent verbal communication skills
•    Excellent interpersonal skills
•    Flexible approach
•    Consistently reliable and punctual

Hours:

Mondays - Sundays anytime between 1.00pm - 9.00pm (shifts are normally 2-3 hours, organised on a rota basis)