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Volunteers'
Newsletter | December 2022
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Welcome to the latest issue of our Volunteers' Newsletter! Our aim is to send out a newsletter on alternate months to advise you of future events and encourage you to share your news and experiences. |
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After so long, at last this week we have been able to celebrate together, in a small way the dedication and commitment of all of you. Our volunteer thank you Christmas lunches have been a great success and thank you to the catering staff and those who volunteered to help us celebrate. 2022 saw you return in greater numbers to your original roles or indeed embrace new volunteering roles, we welcome all those of you who joined us MTW volunteers, and of course we can’t forget the wonderful PAT dogs who have brighten the days of so many staff and patients. You all bring your unique skills, warmth and most of all your precious gift of time.
As another year draws to a close, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year. Thank you for your support and keep doing what you do.
Anne-Marie Stevens-Swain Voluntary Services Manager
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We have been asked to support the upcoming healthcare careers and recruitment event on 18 March from 10am – 2pm.
We are looking for volunteers to help us on the day with:
- Greeting people at the door
- Helping to seat people in the auditorium
- Guiding people at different points throughout the centre
- Handing out information bags/child packs
- Promoting volunteering
If you are interested in finding out more about NHS careers or would like to help at the event, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Sally at sally.keating@nhs.net
Supporting Voluntary Services
We are looking for volunteers that would be interested in supporting the Voluntary Services team. This can include running events, supporting new volunteers, helping with admin and delivering publications within the community. We hope to have volunteers who can support us in teaching and training new volunteers over the coming months.
Emergency Department volunteers
After trials in the both Maidstone and Tunbridge wells Emergency Departments, we are looking for volunteers who would be interested in becoming Emergency Department volunteers. Shifts will be Monday to Friday, either morning, afternoon or both.
Please contact- mtw-tr.volunteers@nhs.net if you would like further information.
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SWAN (End of Life) volunteers
We are holding public information events for anyone looking to become a SWAN volunteer.
SWAN volunteers are members of the Trust’s volunteer team. They spend time with patients who are at the end of life, and their family and friends. Their role includes:
- Offering respite for family and friends when they need a break
- Sitting with the patient
- Providing hot drinks for family and friends, and being someone they can talk to
If you have a family member or friend who could make a difference as a SWAN volunteer, please pass on this invitation or ask them to email Peter Anderson at peter.anderson5@nhs.net
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Pharmacy volunteers
The key features of the post include supporting the pharmacy team with delivery of medication to wards, checking expiry dates and supporting the clinical pharmacy team to provide medication to wards and return unused medicines to the pharmacy
Any volunteer that is interested in this will need to put the patient first and deliver the best possible service. You should have good communication & interpersonal skills; be motivated, flexible to service needs, adaptable and able to work well in an environment of change and transition.
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We are moving! Our new office is located between the purple and pink zones at MH. The space includes volunteer lockers, tea and coffee, and there is a small private outside area for you to enjoy so please feel free to drop in anytime. IT volunteers are also on hand for help with completing online training and activities.
We are hosting an open house in our new office on 4 January 2023 from 10am, and you are warmly invited to attend.
You are also invited to meet our newest team members at our welcome morning in the Wellbeing Lounge at TWH on 5 January 2023 at 10am.
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Yes, it’s coming up to Christmas - if you didn’t know it was coming up, I am impressed you managed to avoid the radio, TV, news, music, people and the changing weather! We were so pleased to see so many of you at the volunteer Christmas meals.
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This is always a popular day for volunteering and we know that it makes a huge difference for the patients and staff on site. If you are going to be in on Christmas day, please let us know so that we can make arrangements.
One of the amazing things the League of Friends (LOF) provides is Christmas gifts for those patients in our hospitals on Christmas day. This is only possible thanks to donations, support and funds raised at Maidstone Hospital. To volunteer with the LOF or donate, please visit The Maidstone Hospital League of Friends (maidstoneleagueoffriends.co.uk)
Our new volunteers’ magazine is hot off the press! The 2022 edition includes all the new groups that have joined the MTW volunteer families, including Emerge Advocacy and Grow 19. There is also information about the different volunteering roles at MTW, interviews with a number of volunteers, as well as information about to how to apply. If you want to read it or share it we have online copies available, or hard copies are available on request.
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Jane Elliott, Macmillian Support volunteer:
Jane puts the patient at the heart of everything she does.
Recently, she has helped a patient that needed compassion and immediate help prior to discharge. Jane ensured the patient could have access to all services and communicated with them via Google translate. Jane took this on to help the patient get food, bedding and clothing when being discharged into temporary accommodation. Jane continues to ensure the patient is informed and supported in their ongoing oncology journey, and always makes sure there is a friendly face to greet them.
Jane helps each patient she encounters with passion, drive, human kindness and warmth, putting everyone at ease. Words of thanks ring out through Oncology for this modest and compassionate lady who always has a smile on her face and really is the biggest credit to the Trust.
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We are delighted to welcome the newest member of the Voluntary Services Team, Peter Anderson, who has recently started in the role of End of Life Coordinator.
”MTW’s new SWAN (End of Life) volunteer service is a great initiative and I'm really proud to be part of it from the start. There will be lots to do to set things up, not least getting together a team of volunteers whose kindness and compassion will make the difference. Over the last six years I’ve had a variety of roles at MTW and as well as being a volunteer for other emotional-support services. My aim is to ensure that together we will make participation in this service a rewarding experience for everyone.” Peter Anderson
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These are a couple of things you can advertise to volunteers:
- Weekly Greengrocer stall, fresh produce available to buy from our sites, Tuesdays at Maidstone and Thursdays at Tunbridge Wells
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Film Club – showing Elf on Thursday 15th Dec, doors open at 5:30 for 6pm start. Maidstone Auditorium. Free entry and refreshments available but you are welcome to bring your own. Open to friends and family.
- Health & Wellbeing virtual lecture, 15th Dec at 1pm – ‘Maintaining Wellbeing’, email mtw-tr.staffwelfare@nhs.net to be sent the Teams link to join
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NHS Health Check – anyone aged between 40 and 74 who meets the eligibility criteria is welcome to book for an NHS Health Check, lots of availability at TWH on 23rd Dec and 6th Jan. Email mtw-tr.staffwelfare@nhs.net to book
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Auricular Acupuncture – clinics run regularly throughout the week, book via MTW Learning
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