Hospital volunteers celebrated

VOLUNTEERS from Southend Hospital were recently celebrated for their years of devoted service to patients and staff.

The occasion was part of a wider Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust event celebrating over 1,000 years of dedication given by volunteers across all three hospitals.

Long service medals were handed out to those that had given their time to helping Broomfield, Braintree, Basildon and Southend hospitals over the years at the series of ‘thank you’ events held at the Saxon Hall in Southend, the Holiday Inn in Basildon and the Chelmsford City Racecourse – in the first face-to-face events in almost three years.

One of those celebrating the longest was Davina, who also used to volunteer at the blood clinic at Southend Hospital said of her charity shop role: “I absolutely love it, I love who I work with and I love chatting to people who come in, some of them are very lonely,” she said.

All three events were attended by hospital bosses, including the Trust’s Chairman Nigel Beverley, Acting Chief Executive Hannah Coffey and Deputy Chairman Alan Tobias. 

Lucy Thomas-Clayton, Director of Fundraising said: “It was lovely to see so many of our volunteers in person after such a long gap and to recognise the huge contribution they make to improving the lives of our patients. 

“As we look 2023, we hope to expand our volunteer service to support staff in A&E and on the wards.” Information about volunteering at our hospitals can be found at www.mse.nhs.uk/get-involved.