URGENT: Call to action – Salisbury District Hospital needs extra volunteers
We are looking for assistance with two volunteer roles as described below.
Ward Buddies
This role supports ward staff to enable them to concentrate on the clinical tasks. Tasks will include moving equipment, answering the telephones, running errands, maintaining cleanliness of ward kitchen and general tidying up of patient areas, making patient drinks and delivering food. Full PPE will be issued as well as volunteer t-shirts. Enhanced buddy roles with more patient contact such as feeding some patients. These will require enhanced PPE. There will be a fast track deployment so most of the training will be on the job. We’re looking for you to ideally commit to a 2 – 4 hour session once a week every week for the foreseeable future. Volunteers need to complete a health questionnaire and health risk assessment as part of the recruitment process in order to ensure a suitable match. Volunteers must be over 17 years of age, fit and able to do a full shift on their feet and feel comfortable working under their own initiative within defined parameters, in an environment that may feel pressured at times. Free parking at the hospital is available when on shift and/or reasonable travel expenses will be paid.
Mass vaccination centre volunteer
There is a new mass vaccination centre opening in the City centre from next week and potentially running through to the Summer. We are looking for volunteers to help marshal to move people through the vaccination hub from beginning to end, keeping orderly queue management and some administrative roles booking people in, etc. This role requires you to be stood on your feet for potentially long periods of time. We’re looking for you to ideally commit to a 4 hour session once a week for at least a month. Surgical masks will be worn. A simple fast track recruitment process will take place including a health risk assessment. There will be on the job training. Free parking in Salisbury city centre will be available when on shift.
If you are interested in either or both roles, please email us on sft.volunteering@nhs.net stating which role is of interest, your name and contact details, and for the ward buddy whether you have any previous experience volunteering or working in a hospital or medical environment, which is not necessary but could be beneficial.
Thank you for considering this and we look forward to hearing from you.
Please stay safe and well.
Best wishes
Jo Jarvis and Monica Wilson
Voluntary Services Team
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust – Salisbury District Hospital
