Volunteer Service’s First Anniversary celebrated at Mayo General Hospital

To mark the first anniversary of the Volunteer Service at Mayo General Hospital, staff and management have paid tribute to the many volunteers who have generously given of their time over the past year.  The volunteers provide a friendly and reassuring welcome to patients and visitors to Mayo General Hospital, and also assist and guide patients and visitors to the various wards, departments and clinics in the hospital, if requested.
 
The Volunteer Service is based in the foyer of the hospital opposite the main entrance. Volunteers wear a distinctive blue bib with ‘Hospital Volunteer’ written on it.  During the past year, over 30 members of the public have volunteered for the Volunteer Service.
 
Charlie Meehan, General Manager, Mayo General Hosptial, has praised the volunteers, saying; “The Volunteer Service has been a great success at the hospital, with very positive feedback from the public. The service is there to assist patients and visitors who may need help in finding where specific services are based in the hospital. It may sound simple, but if a patient or visitor is worried or stressed when they come to the hospital, it can mean so much to be greeted by a friendly face that will help them get to their destination. The volunteers also wait with frail older patients in the foyer while relatives bring their cars to the front door, and again relatives value this service greatly. “
 
The idea of a Volunteer Service was first promoted by patient representatives on Mayo General Hospital’s Patient Forum, and was rolled out by a special committee within the hospital.
 
Mayo General Hosptial was delighted with the positive response to the initial recruitment drive for volunteers. The positivity, good will and energy of the volunteers has been very impressive, and the volunteers are bringing a wealth of life experience, which has been of great benefit to patients, their families and visitors in general.
 
Mr Meehan continued; “The volunteers are ordinary people who give willingly of their time, and generously help others to cope with the challenges of attending a busy acute hospital. The volunteers have brought such positivity and energy to their role, and have become an integral and valued part of the team in Mayo General Hospital.”
 
Photo Caption:
Pictured in Mayo General Hospital at the celebration held to mark the first anniversary of the Volunteer Services;
Front row l-r; Mary Hopkins, volunteer; Mildred Byrne, volunteer; Mary Gibson, volunteer; Rose Stenson, volunteer
Middle row l-r; Karen Carroll, HR Department; Pam Walsh, volunteer; Brendan Guthrie, Patients Forum; Charlie Meehan, General Manager; Seamus Moran, Principal Social Worker; Helen Coyne, volunteer; Mary McNulty, volunteer; Mary Connolly, volunteer 
Back row l-r;. Jim Casey, volunteer; Shauna Jackson, Manager Mayo Volunteer Centre; Anne Marie Browne, Cardiac Rehab, Mayo General Hospital; Carmel McTaghe, volunteer; Anne Quinn, volunteer; Nora Walsh, volunteer; Anne Joyce, volunteer and Rosealeen Halligan, volunteer