Royal Oldham set to say a big 'thank you' to its army of volunteers

Volunteers at The Royal Oldham Hospital have been invited to a special thank you event, which recognises the fantastic contribution volunteers make to the hospital on a daily basis.

The Northern Care Alliance Group, which the Royal Oldham belongs to, has over 500 volunteers ranging from 18 – 89 years old, who donate their time to a wide range of roles.

Between them, these volunteers work many hours per year for the hospital, helping to ensure that wards and departments run smoothly. 

Matthew Powls, Interim Managing Director for Oldham Care Organisation, said: “We are very lucky to have the support and dedication of many volunteers who kindly donate their time.

"The hard work and dedication of our volunteers makes a massive difference to the smooth running of all our services. 

"On behalf of all our teams, I’d like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers.”

Volunteers spend their time at the hospital in many different roles and often donate their time for many different reasons.

One of the volunteers includes Alan Hughes, aged 84, who is celebrating his 20th year as a volunteer at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Alan began volunteering for the hospital when he retired in 1999 and he calls himself the ‘errand boy’ for the surgery division.

Alan explained why he loves volunteering at the hospital.

He said: “I love volunteering at the hospital because it gives me a sense of purpose. It’s a simple job, but its good exercise.

"I get to meet lots of different people and I can walk up to four miles a day doing errands for the surgery and theatres team, rather than just being sat at home watching TV.” 

Another volunteer who also enjoys a long history volunteering at the hospital includes Peter Farrand (80), who volunteers with the pharmacy team.

His role involves delivering drugs to wards around the hospital.

Peter said: “I’ve volunteered with at The Royal Oldham for around 15 years and I do it to give something back to the local community.

"I began working as a volunteer at the hospital after my daughter died of leukaemia and it makes me feel like I’m making a contribution, like I’m giving something back for the care my daughter received.

"I really enjoy the time I spend visiting the wards.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about volunteer opportunities at The Royal Oldham Hospital or any of our Northern Care Alliance sites, you can find out more information on our website: http://www.pat.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteer.htm.

You can also find out more about career and volunteer opportunities available at our public open day on September 19 (10am–12pm) in the Education Centre at the Royal Oldham. 

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