Volunteers help ease parents nerves during children’s surgery
A paediatric volunteer role has been introduced at St John of God Murdoch Hospital after noticing an opportunity to help parents feel more supported.
10 Feb 2021
Patient Experience and Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Howlett said the aim was to ensure parents were fully educated, cared for and supported through their child’s surgical journey.
“Having a support volunteer to provide information may ease anxiety whilst waiting for their child’s procedure to be complete,” she said.
"The paediatric volunteers have great general knowledge of the hospital and are able to answer questions from parents."
Mrs Howlett said while parents are not permitted to be present during the surgery, they can see their child shortly afterwards in recovery.
“Our volunteer introduce themselves to the child and their parents/guardians before the surgery,” she said.
“When the parents leave the child, the volunteer will stay with the family members, escort them to the ground floor and orientate them with the dedicated patient waiting lounge and our nearby Ferns Cafe.
“When the child is awake, the volunteer will collect the parents/guardians and take them to their child in the recovery department.
“We have had great feedback already that this new volunteer role is helping to ease nerves for parents and provide a familiar friendly face they can ask any questions while they wait.”
There are several volunteers who undertake this role in the hospital, depending on the number of paediatric surgeries to be undertaken each day.
Ian Chang (pictured) is one of our new volunteers assisting parents in the paediatric volunteer role. He is one of more than 130 volunteers who assist in various area at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.
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