Ward Friend

Role Overview

Volunteers are a key part of the ward team and provide general, non-clinical support to patients. Being aWard Friend is about proactively engaging and interacting with patients, sitting with people who maybe anxious or need a listening ear, facilitating activities, running errands or fulfilling basic shoppingrequests. It also includes providing basic support and encouragement to patients around mealtime.

Main Tasks

• Proactively befriending patients, their relatives and visitors
• Escorting patients to other parts of the hospital, as directed by the nurse in charge/senior staff
• Promoting activities that help relieve boredom
• Helping patients manage the hospital entertainment system
• Running errands for patients
• Supporting patients with their meals and offering encouragement
• Spotting simple ways to make patients more comfortable during mealtimes, e.g. getting an extrablanket if someone is cold
• Ensuring patients are happy with their meals
• Covering the hot drinks trolley
• Anything that may assist in the smooth running of the ward