Around 50 staff at the Middlesbrough hospital have volunteered to give up ten minutes of their day to visit patients on ward 11, which specialises in older person’s care, as part of a pilot initiative.
“For patients an extended stay in hospital can sometimes feel like a lonely and isolating experience,” said Helen Porritt, advanced nurse practitioner.
“The chance to talk, or just have some new company, can make a huge difference to our patients’ experience and mental wellbeing.”
Kelly Russell, who is also an advanced nurse practitioner on ward 11, added: “Patients are clearly benefitting from the new scheme and our fantastic volunteers have also said that they have felt a positive effect on their own wellbeing, which is great.”
The extra companionship is particularly appreciated while visiting remains restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme enables staff who are already based on the hospital site to volunteer ten minutes of their time to brighten up a patient’s day.
Michelle Turner, who works for the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s cardio research and audit support team, was one of the first members of staff to sign up to the scheme.
“As soon as I saw the girls putting the posters up in my department I knew I had to get involved,” she said.
“When my dad was alive and in hospital it was so important to him that I was there every day and if I couldn’t make it he would be upset.”
For the last two months Michelle has been visiting ward 11 at least once a week.
“I enjoy hearing about their fascinating lives and I love making them laugh,” she added.
Since volunteering Michelle has made quite the impression on some of the ward’s patients, including 76-year-old Lorraine Lambert who lives in Redcar.
“It’s really nice to talk to Michelle, she’s a blessing in her own way,” she said. “It’s a really good idea as our loved ones can’t come to see us at the moment and sadly, even if our families were able to visit, there are some people who don’t have anyone to visit them.”
