With their friendly approach, Voluntary Services team members at Oxford University Hospitals are continuing to make a difference to staff and patients as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
The team – Bridget Daly, Lizzi Hewer-Connelly and until recently Yvonne Blencowe, who has now retired – have been very busy following the outpouring of support the trust received from the community at the start of the pandemic.
The trio carried out pre-employment checks of nearly 100 volunteers, to ensure the safe staffing of a seven-days-per-week rota for the distribution of meals and other supplies to frontline workers.
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Now, Voluntary Services are helping to redesign services to ensure patients, staff and visitors stay safe when visiting OUH hospital sites, as volunteers check that social distancing rules are followed and hand out masks where necessary as people enter hospital building.
Members of the voluntary services team
Having quickly built up a rapport with the new helpers, the team has inspired some of the volunteers to stay and continue volunteering at Oxfordshire’s hospitals.
Volunteers’ Week at the start of June happened during ‘lockdown’ this year but the Voluntary Services team worked tirelessly to ensure the many dedicated volunteers did not feel forgotten, and that their contribution to front line teams and patients, sometimes over many years, continued to be celebrated.
Normally the hospitals celebrate the week and the contribution of helpers with a strawberry cream tea – a chance to get together, meet other volunteers and socialise.
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Instead, this year, with the support of Oxford Hospitals Charity, the team arranged an afternoon tea delivery to volunteers’ homes. This required expert co-ordination to ensure that deliveries were made safely.
The positive feedback from this gesture was overwhelming, not least because some volunteers were ‘shielding’ and had limited contact with people.
Yvonne Blencowe retires from her role as voluntary services manager
Despite working off-site and separated at times over the last few months, Bridget, Lizzi and Yvonne have delivered a sense of belonging for volunteers and a clear insight into how their work supports frontline services and patients.
Laura Bick, head of recruitment and retention at Oxford University Hospitals, said: “The team has received so many positive responses to their activities. Oxford Hospitals Charity sent a personal message thanking them for their support, and the volunteers themselves sent in pictures of their teas.
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“I am proud to lead this hardworking and responsive team.”
Voluntary services team members
Terry Roberts, OUH Chief People Officer, said: “The recent crisis has reminded us how much our volunteers contribute to our services, and we are fortunate to have such a welcoming and efficient team to take care of them.
“The fact that they are choosing to stay now that we are starting up our normal activities again is a testament to the dedication of the Voluntary Services Team.”
Yvonne Blencowe, Voluntary Services Manager, retired after 22 years working for OUH in August.
Many of her colleagues, both past and present, joined her to bid her farewell.
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OUH is looking for short-term Covid-19 volunteers to become Social Distancing Champions across its hospital sites.
Volunteers will need to be over 16 and under 70 with no underlying health issues. Please get in touch with OUH.volunteers@ouh.nhs.uk for more information.
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