The Hospital Volunteers of University Hospital Crosshouse recently held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) where they presented NHS Ayrshire & Arran with a cheque for £155,000. That brings the total raised by the Hospital Volunteers since 2001 to a staggering £5,050,000.
The Hospital Volunteers service was established in 2001 in University Hospital Crosshouse. For more than 23 years, they have been a steady presence in the hospital, running the shop, café and ward trolley service, and in 2006 they opened a small café/shop in the Ayrshire Maternity Unit.
Interim Chair of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, Linda Semple gave a warm welcome to the volunteers and acknowledged the efforts of the hundreds of volunteers over the years.
She explained: “We have 250 amazing volunteers who provide the fantastic Hospital Volunteers service in University Hospital Crosshouse. They happily give their time and energy to provide an invaluable service for patients, visitors and staff. The service they give is often the first impression people have of our organisation, and it is a credit to them that that impression is truly welcoming.
“Over the years, their generosity has allowed us to improve the overall patient experience – for example, refurbishment of our relatives/quiet rooms throughout the hospital; specialist beds and mattresses; birthing beds for the labour suite; and insulin pumps for children with diabetes.
“We should all be inspired by their charity, kindness and dedication. I would personally like to express my genuine thanks to every one of them for everything they do for our organisation. It is a pleasure and a privilege to have them with us.” For more information on volunteering opportunities within the Hospital Volunteers service, email hospitalvolunteers@outlook.com