News

Faces of Joondalup – volunteers

Sep 02, 2024

The committed volunteers at JHC who give their time so generously are the embodiment of the Ramsay Health Care philosophy of ‘people caring for people’.

Director of Nursing Services Mary Ferrier said the volunteers are a great asset to the hospital undertaking a wide variety of roles.

“In recent time, one group has focused on providing social and emotional support to patients on ward L0, who are living with dementia and cognitive impairment, by joining the patients in the shared lounge to share conversation, play cards or games, watch television or just provide company,” said Mary.

LO is a homelike environment for patients to combat the social isolation many of the patients are known to experience in their daily lives outside the hospital.

Volunteer Lorinda Lawrence said she took two patients out into the courtyard who enjoyed taking deep breaths of fresh air and commenting how good it was to be outside.

It was my first week and I didn’t realise how rewarding this could be, they both looked up to the sky and took a breath with a response thanking me,” Lorinda said.

Sue Teeuwisson, a former JHC nurse for 16 years, has been a JHC volunteer for seven years and recently responded to a request to support a patient leaving the ward for treatment.

“The lady was apprehensive about the treatment and just wanted some company and support,” said Sue.

“She was required to be transported via a patient transfer service to undergo treatment and I accompanied her a number of times, for which she was extremely grateful.”

“I love communicating and assisting people when I can. I continued to visit her while in hospital. I think having a familiar face each time was helpful,” said Sue.

Another initiative small in size but big in impact is the ‘Sunday Social’ where the weekend volunteers pay special attention to those patients who may not have had many visitors.

Volunteer Coordinator Simon Quayle said there are so many supportive roles volunteers can fill.

“We invite new volunteers at any time but are especially keen to increase our volunteer numbers right now so that we can do more to support staff and patients and prepare for the opening of new and expanded services next year, which form part of the redevelopment project,” he said.

To register an interest in volunteering contact Simon via the switchboard on (08) 9400 9400 or visit the hospital website.