Julia added: “This can be a improbable alternative to affix our workforce of sensible volunteers who’re doing unbelievable work throughout our hospitals to help sufferers and enhance their hospital expertise.
“Our volunteer drivers are supporting the well timed discharge of sufferers from our hospitals again to their houses. They’ll actually make a distinction to affected person care.”
The primary affected person to make use of the discharge driver service from Royal Shrewsbury Hospital was 87-year-old Maureen Blaney, who mentioned: “From the beginning, I used to be handled royally; nice driver, nice character, nice dialog – I’d be the primary to suggest.”
Paula Gardner, Interim Chief Nursing Officer, mentioned: “Our volunteers are a useful a part of our workforce at SaTH.
“By way of this new scheme, our volunteers will improve our resilience now and after we go into these colder, winter months serving to to help sufferers ready in our emergency departments to get the care they want, in the correct place.”
Vanessa Whately, Chief Nursing Officer from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, mentioned: “This pilot scheme is an excellent instance of how we will work collectively throughout our well being and care system to enhance affected person move and, most significantly, affected person expertise. By supporting well timed and secure discharges, our volunteer drivers will not be solely serving to people return residence extra rapidly however they’re additionally liberating up a lot wanted hospital beds for these in better want.
“It is a small change with a huge impact and one we’re proud to help on the ICB.”
If you want to seek out out extra about volunteering for this service, please get in contact with the Volunteer Crew by way of Volunteering – SaTH. Full coaching can be offered.
