VOLUNTEERS are wanted to offer companionship to patients at Rugby’s Hospital of St Cross.
The Friends of St Cross – who delivered a record level of volunteer support at the hospital last year – have been asked to expand their Patient Visiting Service.
Patient Visitors go on to designated wards and talk to patients who have confirmed they would like a non-clinical listening ear.
They help patients during worrying times when they might feel isolated while away from home and out of their normal routine.
The latest recruits to the Patient Visiting team are Jess and Buddy. Buddy is a two-year-old Golden Retriever therapy dog who is kind, gentle and loves a cuddle.
Buddy is working on behalf of a charity called Therapy Dogs Nationwide, which arranges for dog owners to bring their furry friends into places like schools, hospitals and care homes to help with wellbeing.
The Friends are appealing for anyone who would like to help patients, is a good listener, enjoys meeting people, is empathetic and sensitive, and has good verbal and inter-personal communication skills to join the scheme.
Doug Jones, Chair of the Friends, said: “We currently have some 170 volunteers working in 12 teams and have been asked to expand both our Patient Visiting Service, Mealtime Companion and Meet and Greet Services.
“We need some 20 volunteers to deliver these expanding services and to fill vacancies in other services which inevitably occur from time to time.”
Visit the For Volunteers section at www.fsx.org.uk for more information or to apply.
