A Big Thank You To Our Volunteers

Volunteer Awareness Week began on Sunday and continues until Saturday 21 June. The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the volunteers who work with us. “Our volunteers are invaluable and we appreciate all they do, especially for our patients,” says Chief Executive Officer, Gordon Davies.

Volunteering New Zealand figures show that more than one million New Zealanders are involved in volunteer work, contributing 260 million hours of formal unpaid work for non-profit organisations annually. Numerous volunteer groups work throughout the CDHB to help patients, visitors and staff.

Jan Danrell, Christchurch Hospital Volunteer Coordinator, says “volunteers have a lot of fun, make friends and become part of team”. More than 100 people volunteer at Christchurch Hospital. They run numerous services, including the library trolley, gift shop and flower deliveries. They also work in the playroom, raise funds for equipment and refurbishments and guide patients and visitors around the hospital.

About 46 volunteers help at Burwood Hospital. Their work includes running a mobile library and shop, tutoring people to use computers, supporting spinal injury patients and their families/friends and driving patients to appointments around Canterbury. They are currently looking for a driver and computer tutors.

Clinical Assessors at The Princess Margaret Hospital are using volunteers to act as patients while they learn to use a new system called interRAI – a secure web-based clinical assessment and care planning system, which is accessed while working in the community. The 44 Helping Hands volunteers also organise activities including, ‘sing alongs’, exercise and craft sessions as well as pet therapy with patients who have dementia. Thank you also to the Red Cross volunteers who deliver ‘Meals on Wheels’.

Heather Gray, Director of Nursing and Clinical Services for Ashburton and Rural Hospitals, says “the volunteers are very much a part of the culture at Ashburton Hospital”. Volunteers in Ashburton help with many activities including delivering Meals on Wheels, organising morning teas, reading to patients, entertaining patients, helping to run church services, sitting with palliative care patients and providing a Santa at Christmas in Ashburton Hospital.

Rangiora’s Friends of the Hospital volunteer group coordinate a variety of fundraising activities to raise money for items such as hospital equipment, furnishings, DVDs, televisions and sheepskins for babies. They run a plant cart, which has become a community attraction and a hospital craft ‘cupboard’, which includes knitted garments. The hospital is well-known for its ‘homely’ atmosphere’ which is a testament to the volunteers and hospital staff. If you are a keen knitter or gardener or just want to help in any way see the contact details below.

Akaroa Hospital is enjoying the benefits of renovations, revamps and new equipment thanks to the Guardians of Akaroa Hospital and the local Banks Peninsula community. In addition to annual membership subscriptions and donations, fundraisers such as raffles and events are widely supported.

This is just a sample of what volunteers do for our services. The CDHB would like to thank the many communities and volunteers who work tirelessly for their local hospital and services. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and the CDHB appreciates the time they take from their busy lives to lend a hand to patients and staff. If you are interested in helping in one of our hospitals, please call one of the contacts below or call the hospitals directly.

Christchurch Hospital - Jan Danrell, Volunteer Coordinator, (03) 378 6300
Burwood Hospital - Chris Warnes, Volunteer Coordinator, (03) 383 9499.
The Princess Margaret Hospital and Older Person’s Health Service - Angela Bustin, Volunteer Coordinator, (03) 337 7793.
Ashburton Hospital - Jackie Rapley, Friends of Ashburton Hospital’s Coordinator, (03) 308 3731.
Rangiora Hospital - Jendie Woods, Volunteer Coordinator, (03) 313 2266.
Akaroa Hospital - Bob Ayrey, President, (03) 304 7880.

Volunteers are also needed in community based health services.

ENDS