The Trust that runs Northwick Park, St. Mark’s, Ealing and Central Middlesex hospitals is looking to recruit 350 additional volunteers to support staff and patient services.

London North West Healthcare NHS Trust currently has 220 volunteers, most of them based at Northwick Park and St. Mark’s hospitals. Now the Trust would like to increase their presence at Ealing and Central Middlesex hospitals.

Shirlee Hunte, Voluntary Services Manager, said: “This is the first volunteer recruitment campaign we have run across all hospital sites since the Trust formed in 2014. While Northwick Park and St. Mark’s hospitals have more than 200 volunteers, Ealing and Central Middlesex hospitals have very few.

“We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers for a variety of different roles, including meet and greet, supporting patients to complete surveys and helping out on the wards. Our volunteers play an important role in helping to improve the experience of being in hospital for patients and visitors, enabling frontline, clinical and nursing staff to focus on providing patient care.”

The advertised roles include:

  • Mealtime assistants to support patients during breakfast, lunch and dinner to encourage eating and drinking
  • Meet and greet (in main entrances and A&E) to provide a friendly and helpful welcome to patients and visitors, and provide directions or accompany patients, families and visitors to their destination
  • Self check-in support to help patients check-in for outpatient appointments using the new electronic kiosks
  • Patient companions to read to patients on the wards, facilitate patient surveys and assist and guide patients leaving the ward

Shirlee added: “Volunteering at one of the largest integrated healthcare Trusts in the country is a great way of gaining skills and experience for a future career in a hospital or healthcare setting. We also find that many people volunteer as a way of giving back to their local hospital that has supported them and their families.”

Margaret Moore from Wembley is one of the Trust’s longest serving volunteers. The 81-year-old former teacher started volunteering at Northwick Park Hospital in 1977 and has worked in various roles across the hospital. She now works in the cardiology offices on Monday and Friday mornings dealing with the enormous amount of mail that passes through every day.

Margaret said: “My son was born at Northwick Park Hospital. It was a difficult birth and the staff looked after me so well. I wanted to pay the hospital back for the care they had given me so I started volunteering on Lister Ward doing anything and everything I could to help.

“Ten years ago my husband passed away and I appreciated the company more than ever. The team I work with are a grand lot and they count me as one of their own. As a volunteer I feel really appreciated for the work I do. I would recommend it to anyone. Come in and give it a go. There are so many different ways you can get involved.”

To find out more about volunteering at London North West Healthcare and to apply for one of the roles, please visit www.lnwh.nhs.uk/volunteering or call 020 8869 2425 for a recruitment pack.

All volunteers are reimbursed for travel expenses and receive refreshment vouchers.