PEOPLE walking through the entrances of Mount Gambier Hospital will be now greeted with a welcoming smile and a helping hand thanks to a fledgling volunteer guide program.
With hundreds of people flowing through the regional hospital each week, it is hoped the friendly volunteers will help people navigate the various sections of the expansive hospital with greater ease.
These volunteers will also be on hand to take people to a patient’s room for visitation.
Mount Gambier Hospital nursing and midwifery acting director Sally Neumann said guides stationed inside the hospital’s main entrance helped people navigate the building.
“The guides will also be based in the Country Health Connect reception area inside the main entrance and will be easily identifiable in their bright blue vests,” Ms Neumann said.
“Guides will also be able to listen to patient feedback while showing patients and visitors around the hospital, which will be useful for staff to see where we can improve.”
Ms Neumann said the hospital was committed to improving patient and visitor experiences in any way it could.
“The guides program is an exciting initiative that will provide support and direction to anyone who may need it,” she said.
Volunteer coordinator Amy Watt said the guide program had received positive feedback since it began in late July.
“We currently have eight volunteers involved in the program who offer their services in the mornings from Monday to Friday,” Ms Watt explained.
“We would love to have more volunteers on board and encourage more enthusiastic community members to join the team.
“Once more volunteers are on board, we hope the guide service can be offered in the afternoons as well.”
Cheryl Grass – who recently started as a volunteer guide – said the program was not only helpful for patients and people visiting the hospital, but was also enriching her life.
“I wanted to volunteer for the program because I thought it was a nice way to give back to the community,” Ms Grass told The Border Watch.
Revealing she had just moved back from Adelaide, she said the program was a great way to connect with the community and help people.
Now in her sixth week in the program, Ms Grass said the feedback from people had been enormously positive.
“Everyone who I have guided somewhere said the initiative was great,” she said.
The volunteer said many people needed help finding the day surgery, a patient’s room, the dental clinic or even day surgery.
Fellow volunteer Kate McDonough – who suffered a medical incident while working at the hospital more than two years ago – said the program had helped her rebuild her confidence.
“This volunteer role is getting me out of my home and meeting people,” Ms McDonough said.
“Given I already know my way around the hospital, I really have not been given any questions I cannot answer yet.”
Ms McDonough said she tried to have a friendly approach given people entering the hospital could be under emotional stress.
“I always try to be cheerful for people walking in because it could be one of their worst days,” she said.
Anyone keen to volunteer can collect an information pack from the Country Health Connect offices on James Street and Wehl Street.
