Patient facing roles

As a volunteer in the A&E department, you’ll support patients and assist staff with a variety of non-clinical tasks. Your contribution helps to ensure a positive patient experience and plays a vital role in the smooth running of this busy department.

As a Chaplaincy Volunteer and guided by the Lead Chaplain, you will offer spiritual care and support to patients and visitors as required.

As a Clinic Support Volunteer, you’ll support busy outpatient clinics by providing practical, non-clinical assistance which helps to ensure the clinic runs smoothly and that the patient receives a positive outpatient experience. Key aspects of this role are to welcome and signpost patients to where they need to be and assist in maintaining a clean and tidy environment.

As a Complementary Therapy Volunteer, you’ll work under the guidance of our Complementary Therapy Coordinator to provide therapeutic support to cancer patients. Your care will help promote relaxation and enhance overall wellbeing during a difficult time.

As a Donald Wilson House volunteer, you will chat with patients, support their engagement in activities like games, television, and light gardening, prepare drinks after checking with nursing staff, and assist them with their exercises.

As an Activity Volunteer, you’ll focus on supporting patients’ physical and mental wellbeing under the guidance of Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy staff. You may help run group activities or encourage patients to stay engaged with their personal interests whilst in hospital. You’ll also offer one-to-one companionship through conversation and interactive activities.

As a volunteer, you can make a significant difference by supporting our Food Services Team within the hospital and improve the quality of care for all patients.

The Friends’ Hospital Ward Trolley at St Richard’s Hospital provides facilities for patients, visitors and staff to buy a daily newspaper, magazines, toiletries,  snacks and drinks. It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who ensure that the service operates every week day and all profits are ploughed back into the hospital trolley volunteer.

As a Welcome and Wayfinding Volunteer, you’ll be the friendly face that greets patients and visitors. Your role will include guiding people to wards and departments, offering reassurance, sharing practical information about hospital facilities and supporting reception staff. You may also run errands, maintain wheelchair availability, update noticeboards, and, once trained, help safely transport patients in wheelchairs. Your support will help create a warm, welcoming environment and help to ease stress and anxiety for those accessing our hospitals.

As a Dementia Support Volunteer, your focus will be to provide dedicated support to patients diagnosed with dementia or delirium, through encouraging independence, maintaining individual’s likes and dislikes and offering companionship and one-to-one mealtime support.

As a volunteer supporting the Macmillan Information Centre, you’ll play a key role in helping people affected by cancer by providing information and signposting and promoting available support services. Your involvement will help ensure patients feel supported, informed and have access to all the information they may require whilst on their cancer journey.

As a PAT Volunteer, you and your PAT- registered therapy dog will bring comfort, companionship and joy to patients through short, supervised visits. You’ll follow hospital policies and ensure your dog wears official PAT identification during each visit. Whether sitting bedside, engaging with patients, or staff members your visits are always warmly welcomed.

As a volunteer on an adult ward, you’ll play a key role in supporting busy staff by assisting with a variety of non-clinical, practical tasks. Helping with simple tasks, such as re-stocking or running errands is invaluable as it frees up staff to care. By providing companionship, emotional support and conversation to patients, you’ll be positively supporting their wellbeing, easing loneliness and helping to make their time in hospital as comfortable as can be. Volunteer involvement on the ward has been shown to enhance the overall experience for patients, visitors and staff.

This service offers the opportunity for patients to buy papers, treats and snacks, so as to bring a little light to their day. The trolley service enhances the experience of patients whilst in hospital.