NHS honour legion of sterling Lanarkshire volunteers

Oct 8 2008 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

VOLUNTEERS will be at the centre of NHS Lanarkshire’s penultimate 60th anniversary event which takes place today, Wednesday, in South Lanarkshire Council’s Hamilton headquarters.

At the event tribute will be paid to volunteers, past and present, who have given their time to a whole host of organisations and groups across the county.

There are around 400 individuals who volunteer for a variety of NHS-supported services across Lanarkshire.

Some of them work directly with NHS Lanarkshire as members of the Public Partnership Forums (PPFs).

Others give their time and commitment to help and support patients, families and visitors in the community and within hospitals.

One initiative grateful for the efforts of volunteers is the Kilbryde Hospice in East Kilbride, who, as well as their fundraising, rely on the help of volunteers to run the day hospice at the Red Deer Centre in Westwood.

One of those volunteers is 18-year-old medical student Ross Jack, who from May until he started his studies at Glasgow University in September, spent Tuesday afternoons at the day centre.

Ross, who still helps out whenever he can, explained: “I got involved with the Kilbryde Hospice as I wanted to do something health-related but wasn’t in a hospital setting. I like the holistic approach and I’m just glad to help where I can.

“In the short time I’ve been there, I feel I’ve developed. My interpersonal skills have improved as a result of meeting more people and dealing with helping them.”

Hugh Sweeney, NHS Lanarkshire’s employee director and organiser of NHS Lanarkshire’s 60th anniversary celebrations, ,said it was fitting volunteers such as Ross be honoured during the diamond celebrations.

He said: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of many voluntary services across Lanarkshire. The NHS in Lanarkshire is certainly a richer organisation because of their dedication and this event is to thank them.”

Katrina Murray, NHS Lanarkshire’s voluntary services manager, said: “We are always on the look-out for new volunteers. Volunteering can be as tremendously rewarding for the volunteer as well as for the beneficiary of their efforts.”

If you would like to find out more about volunteering call Katrina Murray on 01236 707796.

HELPING HAND: Ross Jack is a volunteer with the Kilbryde Hospice.