Ann Mack
A quest has been launched for more volunteers at Fort William’s hospital, because they make a “massive difference to patients”.
Ian McConnell, the volunteer services manager with NHS Highland wants more people to come along and assist with various tasks at the Belford Hospital as well as at the Invernevis Care Home in the town.
He argued that volunteers play a valuable role in many ways and his plea for new participants to get involved has been backed by a local organisation.
Mr McConnell told members of Lochaber Rotary Club that the volunteering service has been running for the past five years.
He said: “Volunteers can undertake a number of different roles across NHS Highland, complementing the work of paid staff.
“There is already a great tradition of voluntary activity throughout the region and we want to raise awareness of these volunteering opportunities in Lochaber.
“We are also keen to recruit musicians who can contribute around 30-45 minutes once a week for sing-alongs.
“Most of our volunteers offer between one or two hours of their time every week and their support can make a massive difference to the patients.”
Mr McConnell appreciates Fort William is not a big place and acknowledges lots of local residents have other demands on their time.
He added: “We are realistic about what people can manage so we are very flexible. If people can space a few hours maximum once a week, that would be fantastic.”
“There are a wide range of support tasks open to volunteers, including practical ones like helping with the tea trolley service, assisting at meal times by cutting up food for individual patients, and giving emotional support.
“This can include spending time at a patients’ bedsides, providing companionship and helping to prevent isolation and loneliness.
“Also, if people can provide some form of musical entertainment, such as playing the fiddle or guitar, this would be very welcome.”
The club’s past president, John Goodall, a retired consultant physician at the Belford Hospital, declared: “This is a marvellous idea. I hope lots of volunteers come forward and we’ll do all we can to spread the word.”
Anyone who feels they can spare a few hours each week to help can contact Mr McConnell by email at ian.mcconnell1@nhs.net or by phone on 01463 704867 or 07815005336.
Members of the local rotary club also received greetings from Himalayan Gurkhas in Kathmandu, thanks to a visit by one of their past presidents.
Sheana Fraser visited Nepal, along with members of the Rotary Club of Kirriemuir, to see a school in Syangja which has risen from the rubble following the devastating earthquake that hit the country in 2015.
The Kirriemuir club funded a project to rebuild three classrooms as well as toilet facilities for the pupils.
Mrs Fraser said: “It was a very humbling experience to visit Nepal. We often complain about our situation, but when you experience how these people live, you appreciate how privileged we really are.”
