Student volunteers lend NHS a hand

Latest recruits: Students with Medical Director Dr Nick Dawes during Volunteers Week (1-7 June).

Students from Hopwood Hall College are the latest recruits for NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s Volunteer programme.

The scheme, which has taken on 70 volunteers so far, helps the local NHS to enhance health services provided for local communities.

Over the last couple of months the students have helped out on the Cancer Chancer campaign, handing out leaflets and materials to members of the public and, as they study for their Health and Social Care NVQs, they will be getting even more involved.

Dr Nick Dawes, Medical Director at NHS HMR said: “We work hard to improve the health and well-being of every person living in the Rochdale Borough and volunteers are vital to helping us achieve this. The scheme’s only been running a few months and we have a great amount of volunteers helping to enhance our services and assist us in improving and developing the care we give.”

Amy Gibbons, Volunteer Co-ordinator explained: “Anyone can take part in volunteering. You don’t need qualifications and NHS HMR will provide all the support and training you need. The time you give is flexible and depends entirely on what you can offer us.

“Our volunteers come from a variety of different cultural groups and backgrounds, with the teams being made up of former patients and staff; students and members of the local community.

“We are finding that people are volunteering for a variety of different reasons. For some, it’s the opportunity to give something back to the community or a way of saying thank you for a good service they have received, whilst for others, it gives them the opportunity to develop their confidence and skills.”

As a volunteer there are a wide variety of roles to get involved in, from assisting in health centres, clinics and services to attending health promotion events and chaperoning patients.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact volunteer co-ordinator Amy Gibbons at NHS HMR on 01706 652884, or email amy.gibbons@hmrpct.nhs.uk