Volunteering

Volunteering at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a great way to support your local hospital. We have over 300 volunteers making a difference to both our patients and staff in over 50 different roles. Whether you want to volunteer at York, Scarborough, Bridlington or Selby hospitals or some of our smaller community sites, everyone can make a difference and we welcome your application to join us.

Volunteer roles

Volunteers fulfil a variety of roles with the purpose of enhancing patient experience. Although volunteers do not perform any clinical roles, they are able to get some hands on experience of what it is like to work in a hospital environment and work alongside hospital staff.

Ward support volunteer

Many of the wards need an extra hand with some tasks during busy times of the day like calling relatives to give appropriate messages, helping patients contact family and friends with a mobile or tablet. You may also be asked to get belongings from reception that their families have brought for them. Along with helping during drinks rounds and getting things for the patients.

Dining companion volunteer

Providing assistance and company to patients at meal times is important, ensuring they have easy access to their meal, a drink, false teeth, glasses and anything else that may aid them. You may also help patients eat their meal and you will be trained to do this, however you should never aid a patient on a texture modified diet.

Activity volunteer

This role is about running activities for volunteers on wards you can tailor this to your specific interests for example, if you really like arts and crafts you could do some art based activities with the patients. You do not have to stick to the same kind of activities each time you go onto the ward, and can swap and change as much as you like.

Community Hospital volunteer

Similar to the activity volunteer but in one of the community hospitals linked to the Trust: Nelsons Court, Selby War Memorial Hospital and St. Monica’s Hospital. These inpatient units provide care for geriatric patients. Sometimes the activities you do are only for one patient that might have been identified by the ward therapists and could be something as simple as talking to the patient or playing a board game.

Emergency department volunteer

Our emergency departments can be busy and daunting for patients, volunteers can help ease any concerns the patients might have. Volunteers can also help by listening out for names being called which some people may miss due to there being a lot of background noises, update patients on the current waiting time even just chat to them to try settle any stress.

Outpatients volunteer

Providing outpatients with a meet and greet service being able to guide patients on where to go. Making sure people are sanitising hands and ensuring people wear a mask, as well as asking COVID screening questions.