Lucy Burgess and Karen Hall
As part of Volunteers Week 2019, we are looking at some of the roles available around Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Here we meet Lucy Burgess.
Lucy has been volunteering at Blackpool Victoria Hospital since October 2018.
The 26-year-old, who has Down’s Syndrome, is a vital support to the Trust’s Patient Experience team as she visits the Outpatients’ Department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital with her carer Karen Hall asking patients for their feedback as part of the national Friends and Family Test scheme.
The views she gains are vital to the Trust as they provide real time feedback from patients which is used to make things better for them and their carers or visitors.
Lucy said: “I really enjoy volunteering at the hospital. I love meeting people and talking to patients.
“I have been doing this since October last year and have learned so much. It has really helped me grow in confidence and it’s nice to know I am doing something that helps other people.’’
Volunteer Officer at the Trust, Catherine Henshaw, said Lucy had made a “massive’’ impact since she started volunteering.
She said: “Our Friends and Family Test returns have grown massively in number since Lucy started her role with us and that is really important because the more patient views we get the more we can develop our services to help people.’’
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Blackpool Victoria or Clifton Hospitals, visit https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/would-you-like-to-help-patients-and-visitors-on-the-fylde-coast/ for more information.