Celebrating our fantastic volunteers during Volunteers’ Week

Volunteers’ Week (Monday 2 June to Sunday 8 June) is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.

We have 129 volunteers who give around 2,600 hours a month of their time to help support patients and visitors and assist in providing high-quality, compassionate care to the people of Medway and Swale. The hospital’s League of Friends and Hospital Radio Medway operate independently alongside them.

Aged from 19 all the way up to 90, our volunteers can be found in a variety of areas including wards, being dementia buddies, undertaking administrative and clerical duties, acting as guides, supporting our Chaplains, assisting in the Emergency Department, intensive care unit, pharmacy and library. They also support our Frailty Unit at Sheppey Community Hospital.

Collage of volunteers smiling into the camera

At 90 Dotty Rust (pictured top right) is the hospital’s oldest volunteer and later this year will celebrate 25 years of volunteering here at Medway.

Dotty said: “When I retired, the retirement age was 60, but although I stopped working full time, I wanted to keep doing something so I started volunteering to meet and help people.”

Dotty, alongside fellow volunteers Val Sawyer and Graham Hill and his therapy dog Jarvis, is a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category at the hospital’s annual Star Awards which take place on Thursday 12 June.

Val was nominated for her remarkable dedication, outstanding work and the positive impact she has on everyone around her, with Graham and Jarvis nominated for being a marvellous duo and spreading joy and happiness to patients.

Zoe Goodman, the hospital’s Voluntary Services Manager said: “It is a privilege to manage and work with the volunteers at Medway. They are a caring and compassionate group of people who give their all to helping others.

“As part of Volunteers’ Week and to recognise and celebrate their commitment we will be holding our annual volunteers cream tea on Friday 6 June.”

Anyone with an interest in health and wellbeing who is over the age of 16 is welcome to apply to become a volunteer at Medway Maritime Hospital or the Sheppey Frailty Unit. Volunteers are given a full induction, and training sessions are provided to help them in their role.

Find out more about volunteering with us.

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