Volunteering can have a beneficial effect on the people involved. This includes not only the volunteers but also the recipients of the volunteer endeavour – the patients and the public.
In addition to this, volunteering can have positive impact on the staff who work alongside volunteers, creating new avenues of learning, skills development and even new career pathways.
This section outlines how volunteering can contribute value to the NHS and its stakeholders.
NHS staff have reported benefits through engaging volunteers in the NHS. Evaluation of a pilot in NHS Ayrshire & Arran encouraged staff to reflect on the involvement of volunteers at mealtimes.
Staff noted the following benefits:
Volunteers are regularly involved in Patient Focus Public Involvement (PFPI) activity through Public Partnership Forums (PPFs), patient panels and groups where patients feed back on their experiences of receiving a particular healthcare service. Developing volunteer roles around patient and public involvement activities can help to gather feedback and provide data and experiences that can be used to improve on services, ensuring involvement is representative of the communities served.
In an evaluation of volunteer placements in a Glasgow Royal Infirmary Library in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, staff noted that managing a volunteer in the library:
Volunteer roles within the NHS can complement the service provided and free up the staff for their core roles.
Many volunteer roles involve an interaction with patients. These roles do not infringe upon the core work of paid staff but provide a complementary aspect to person-centred care.
A case study produced by Volunteer Scotland and the National Waiting Times Centre NHS Board (Golden Jubilee National Hospital) highlighted the role of Volunteer Support for Sensory Impaired Patients.
This included:
Volunteer roles that involve interaction with patients can help to ensure a person-centred care approach
Research has shown that volunteering has a positive impact on volunteers’ wellbeing, personal development and confidence. This is often linked to an increase in socialisation.
For example, a review of volunteering in NHS Lothian in 2012 found that 78% of volunteers surveyed reported that their confidence had increased and 98% of volunteers would recommend volunteering with NHS Lothian to friends and family.
Alan (54) was a policeman who sustained a serious head injury whilst on duty. He was no longer able to continue his role in the police force and became a volunteer to gain confidence in meeting the public. He has volunteered with NHS Tayside for around five years as a ‘Meeter and Greeter’ at Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre in Forfar. Alan also volunteers with the Strathmore Hospice at Whitehills and works every Tuesday afternoon (weather permitting) in the gardens. Alan believes his volunteering roles were very important in his recovery and helped him regain his confidence in meeting and dealing with members of the public.
The impact of volunteering on an individual has a positive influence on their wellbeing and subsequently their health. Volunteering can therefore be seen as a contributing factor to improving the health and wellbeing of the public – not simply a method for delivering services.
Volunteering can improve the health and wellbeing of volunteers.
Over 500 volunteers roles were filled last year by people like you.
Speak with a local volunteer coordinator and then Apply to start the process.
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