Sheffield Open Heart Club

Volunteer Service

• As previously identified one of the core purposes of SHOC was the development of a volunteer service to the cardiac unit at the Northern General Hospital. There are currently over 30 active volunteers who visit patients on the cardiac surgery wards six days a week, providing a valuable patient orientated perspective. In addition they offer a telephone contact service.

• Some volunteers also attend the pre-surgery information groups where they contribute to the discussions. These volunteers are all ex patients who have undergone the trauma of major heart surgery and are willing to share their experiences of both surgery and their recovery period. They provide reassurance, allay fears and offer practical support to patients and their families.

• The volunteers are closely monitored and supported by the Lead Nurse, Social Worker and Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Specialists. There are formal volunteers meetings three times a year to discuss any relevant issues and/or problems. Informal discussions are also held at Committee and Social meetings. A more recent successful initiative in the form of a volunteer training session has now taken place and will be repeated in the future.

• A small amount of fund raising is also carried out for the benefit of cardiac patients. This is used to purchase specialist equipment, not normally provided through usual hospital funding systems. It is donated for the benefit of patients in the Cardiothoracic Unit at the Northern General Hospital, and also for initiatives which assist cardiac patients with their recovery.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
ONE VISION
The Patient Care Award

Shoc volunteers were successfully nominated for one of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Annual Excellence Thankyou Awards in 2005. The awards recognise the dedication, commitment and innovation shown by staff and volunteers working in the Hospital Trust to improve the service patients receive. The Shoc Volunteer as a whole won ‘The Patient Care Award category, and a small representative group of the volunteers attended the ceremony to receive the award (a glass plaque and a cheque) on behalf of the volunteers. The plaque will be displayed in the Chesterman Unit


23rd September 2005

Bill Staniland and Volunteers, together with Sue Inglis, Sally Huckle and MC Harry Gration











 

October 2009

Some of our volunteers
(copyright Derek Bower)