MOUNT Gambier Hospital has unveiled a new supportive program, being described as a new chapter for the health facility.
In the first time in the history of the hospital, volunteers will be positioned specifically in the busy emergency department.
The program – known as the Friends of the Emergency Department (FED) – will see accredited volunteers giving patients and carers non-clinical support.
An estimated 20,000 people attend the emergency department each year, which can be overstretched during busy times.
Hospital nurse unit manager Sally Neumann said volunteers would be initially posted in the department between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday.
“It will be initially rolled out with eight volunteers, but we are looking to extend this number into the future,” Ms Neumann told The Border Watch yesterday.
“The volunteers will support patents, families and carers during their time in the department.”
Explaining the volunteers would be “another pair of eyes” in the department, Ms Neumann said they would be able to speak with staff about any concerns and ask questions on behalf of patients and their families.
“Emergency departments can be quite stressful places. We are often rushing to see to everyone’s needs and have many difficult clinical times,” she explained.
“There are often times where I think members of the public, carers and loved ones feel slightly lost in the journey.”
She said the volunteer program would focus on providing “the human touch and additional caring compassion” to the services.
“The volunteers will be able to sit with them and just listen to what they have got to say,” Ms Neumann said.
Welcoming the program launch yesterday, the nursing professional said emergency department volunteer programs had been successful and were well established in hospitals, particularly in Victoria and New South Wales.
“They are very much part of the everyday bread and butter services,” Ms Neumann explained.
“I see the volunteer program as quite an exciting development for the hospital.”
Volunteers will undergo an induction and accreditation process before they can begin working in the busy department.
“We have already had an orientation day with the first of the eight volunteers,” Ms Neumann said.
While they are yet to have a uniform, volunteers will be clearly identified with name badges until uniforms can be organised.
The hospital also intends to displaying photographs of volunteers on the wall of the emergency department and is canvassing handing out activity packs to children.
According to Ms Neumann, the program was spearheaded by acting Country Health SA South East acting director Ngaire Buchanan, who flagged the idea after quickly settling into the role.
The new volunteer program was launched as part of National Volunteers Week.
Nearly 600 volunteers work in South East’s health system.
