There are many groups and organisations that help at our hospitals; maybe you can help them help us?
Hospital Leagues of Friends:
Most of the hospitals have very active Leagues of Friends which raise considerable funds for their chosen site. Some run shops and tea bars; others organise events to generate money; but all are equally committed to helping to provide additional support for their local hospital.
For further information on how you can help a League of Friends or support group local to you, contact Ray Pritchard, Relationships Manager on 01248 384512 or e-mail: ray.pritchard@wales.nhs.uk
Ron & Margaret Smith Cancer Appeal:
The Ron & Margaret Smith Cancer Appeal raises funds for the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre at Glan Clwyd hospital and have contributed over £2 million towards additional equipment and training at the Centre.
The appeal was set up in 1991 by Margaret Smith after her husband Ron died of Cancer. The original aim was to see a centre established in North Wales providing radiotherapy treatment ensuring that patients no longer had to travel to Clatterbridge and Christies hospital for treatment.
Following Margaret's sudden death in 2007, the committee decided to honour her dedication by adding her name to the appeal.
All Appeal workers are unpaid volunteers, so all the expenses are kept to an absolute minimum.
A recent pledge from the Appeal was for £100,000 which will buy software which will allow cancer treatment to be targeted more effectively and accurately.
Further information about the appeal and how you can help can be obtained from the Secretary, Mrs Doris Robets. Tel: 01745 812504 or e-mail: littledorrit@btinternet.com
Pictured is the late Margaret Smith accepting a donation for the appeal.
Gwynedd Haematology and Cancer Relief Fund
In 1988 a substantial legacy from a grateful patient was left to the haematology department and Dr. Korn, Consultant Haematologist was keen that the money be used to help patients in the Gwynedd area. After taking advice, an independent fund was set up. Soon afterwards another legacy was received and the money was banked together until 1992 when Gwynedd Health Authority agreed to start a public appeal for a new unit to treat patients with cancer and haematological disorders.
The public of Gwynedd raised a grand total of £1.4 million to build the new Alaw Cancer Unit which was finished in the year 2000.
The Unit now supports a wide variety of day-case and in-patient treatments including patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and solid tumours using standard chemotherapy and also high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue.
After the opening of the Alaw Unit it was agreed not to close the Fund and although changed in nature the committee still meets to oversee distribution of money it continues to receive from the many diverse contributions made by the public.
For further information visit www.ghcrf.org.uk
Health Board Volunteers
Gifting your time to support our patients and their families:
Volunteering within the Health Board will provide you with an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, learn new skills or put your existing skills to good use. You will become part of a team, enjoying a new and rewarding challenge as you help our patients in our acute and community hospitals. Our volunteers are given full training and support to undertake their roles.
What sort of volunteering would suit you?
We greatly value the time and skills that are gifted to us by our volunteers in many different roles throughout our hospitals, day units and clinics. Roles such as:
Ward Volunteering
Volunteering within the Health Board will provide you with an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, learn new skills or put your existing skills to good use. You will become part of a team, enjoying a new and rewarding challenge as you help our patients in our acute and community hospitals. Our volunteers are given full training and support to undertake their roles.
What sort of volunteering would suit you?
We greatly value the time and skills that are gifted to us by our volunteers in many different roles throughout our hospitals, day units and clinics. Roles such as:
Ward Volunteering
Volunteering as part of a ward-based team supporting our inpatients and their families.
Hospital Guides
Helping patients and visitors to find their way around our hospital premises.
Reception & information desk services
Providing a helpful, informative point of contact for patients and visitors as they access hospital services.
Retail Volunteers
Assisting in our tea bars and shops and with sweet trolley ward rounds to raise much appreciated funds.
Day Unit Volunteers
Joining patients in craft activities, quizzes, word games etc.
Hospital Radio Volunteers
Help as a hospital radio ward visitor, assist with fund raising or even present your own music and chat show!
And many more roles exist…….
If you are aged 17 or over with a few hours to spare each week and would like to volunteer in our busy yet friendly hospitals then please contact: Sue Marriott on 01978 727164 or email: Sue.Marriott@wales.nhs.uk
WRVS Services
WRVS is an age positive organisation and believe every older person has the opportunity and choice to get more our of life.
They have many volunteering opportunities within general & community hospitals:-
Information Points
Volunteers assist patients, visitors & staff with health information by providing a vast range of booklets and signpost & refer patients to local support groups so their able to receive specialised support & help from charities & services within the community. Patients have the opportunity to borrow wheelchairs for the length of their appointments and volunteers are on hand to guide & escort them to clinics to attend outpatient appointments.
WRVS volunteers provide a meet & greet service within Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Opthalmic Unit, supporting & welcoming patients on entering the unit and referring telephone calls to the appropriate nurse. Making sure leaflet information is displayed within the unit.
They also provide information services in Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd, Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley and Ysbyty Alltwen.
Retail Shops, Tea Bars & Trolley Service
Volunteers assist the public with hot drinks & snacks and supporting patients with purchasing gifts from the shop and assist with the snack trolley service within the wards and clinics within Ysbyty Gwynedd.
They also provide shop and trolley services within Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley and tea bars & trolley services within Llandudno and Colwyn Bay hospitals.
Community Befriending Service
Volunteers support patients once they have been discharged from hospital, provide company and support with small practical tasks that make all the difference:- including assisted shopping, walking or feeding a pet and collecting prescriptions.
Training and mentoring support is provided to all volunteers throughout their volunteering roles.
For further information about WRVS services or how you can become a volunteer please contact 0845 601 4670 or email: volunteer@wrvs.org.uk