Willett, Brantford hospital volunteers ‘icing on the cake’
Article content
Whether you have been to a hospital recently, or read about healthcare in the news, you likely understand the current staffing levels. Never before have hospitals been called upon to consistently provide so much care for so many patients and their families.
“The Brant Community Healthcare System Volunteer Association supplements our physicians and staff at the Brantford General Hospital and The Willett Hospital in Paris,” Kari Astles, senior coordinator volunteer engagement, said recently. “Our volunteers do not replace the staff, but instead enhance the care patients and families receive.”
From the minute you enter Brantford General Hospital (BGH) and The Willett, you can easily spot one ore more of the 300 volunteers as they go about their duties wearing their blue uniforms. It may be right inside the hospital entrance where a volunteer will greet you and provide directions to where you are headed. Or it may be providing patients a convenient wheelchair ride when they are discharged home.
“We have volunteers in the emergency department, the urgent care centre, and many areas throughout both sites,” Astles said.
More recently, volunteers have resumed their posts in the intensive care unit and the dialysis clinic.
“COVID-19 disrupted many of the things our volunteers were doing, however, they are now being reintroduced,” Astles said. “And our members are happy to be back.”
National Volunteer Week in Canada is April 14 to 20. It is a time to recognize the contributions volunteers make. At the BGH and Willett hospitals there will be treats and draws, and for the first time since COVID-19, a volunteer appreciation event will also be held.
“We will recognize 45 volunteers who have reached new milestones in their volunteering at the Brant Community Healthcare System. This year we will honour volunteers who have been with us for many years, including volunteers who have accumulated 17,000 hours and 13,000 hours!”
The Brant Community Healthcare System always needs more volunteers.
“Presently, our most immediate need is for volunteers for the patient transport service and various in-patient programs,” Astles said. “I encourage people to go online to www.bchsys.org/volunteer. All the information is there.”
Astles has been in volunteer administration for over 25 years, beginning at a Toronto hospital. She says, “It is extremely rewarding to get to know our volunteers and see the satisfaction they receive from helping everyone at the BGH and The Willett.”
“Our hospital volunteers are not only ‘a nice to have,’ but they truly are also the icing on the cake.”
Hospital Insider is written by Gary Chalk who assists with communications for the Brant Community Healthcare System.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.