Volunteering

Direct contact with patients, providing support, companionship and a warm welcome.

• Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care – supporting chaplains in providing spiritual and emotional support.
• Community Support – supporting group activities (e.g. Speech and Language Community Hub) and admin tasks.
• Eye Treatment Centre – welcoming patients and supporting staff in eye clinics.
• Information Desk – welcoming and directing patients and visitors on arrival.
• Newmarket Community Hospital (patient support) – supporting patients in Rosemary Ward.
• Outpatients Areas (Diabetes Centre, Dialysis Unit, Endoscopy, the Macmillan Information Centre, Macmillan Outpatients Reception, Pain & DVT Clinic, Pathology, the Pre-admission Unit, Radiology) – welcoming patients, running errands and escorting patients.
• Pets as Therapy – bringing registered therapy dogs to visit patients.
• Rainbow Children’s Ward – assisting ward and play specialist teams.
• Treatment Units (AAU, Day Surgery, Macmillan Day, etc.) – providing non-clinical support to patients attending for treatment.
• Ward Support – Discharge Waiting Area, Patient Flow – providing companionship and helping support bed flow.
• End of Life Companion – sitting with patients at the end of life, offering comfort.
• Wards – patient companionship, helping with meals and general non-nursing support (also at Newmarket Community Hospital and Maternity).

Roles that support hospital services or logistics, often behind the scenes.

• Bleep Volunteers – collecting and delivering medication from pharmacy to departments.
• General Support – includes admin roles, wheelchair volunteers, Patient Experience surveys, Patient Profiles, Future Systems engagement on the new hospital build.
• Newmarket Community Hospital (operational support) – supporting chaplaincy visits and garden upkeep.

Supporting charity and fundraising activity that benefits West Suffolk Hospital.

• My WiSH Charity – supporting with events, community fundraising, awareness stands and admin.
• Friends of the West Suffolk Hospital Shop – supporting the shop and trolley service; fundraising for the hospital.

Improving the hospital environment for patients, visitors and staff.

• Gardening – maintaining courtyard gardens at West Suffolk Hospital and Newmarket Community Hospital.