Royal Recognition for Volunteers

Our 100 plus army of volunteers at Birmingham Women’s Hospital are very special to the Trust and to our patients and visitors. Now they have received a very special royal recognition. This year our Volunteers Service received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a special ceremony on the 25th September. This is awarded to the Trust for the lifetime of its volunteers and is the equivalent of an MBE.

The Women’s Hospital is just one out of three organisations in the West Midlands to receive the award. It was judged as the best in an impressive galaxy of volunteering talent and our achievements prove that volunteering is embedded deep within the organisation.

The Award was presented to the Trust’s Volunteers by Her Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Mr David Bradnock at Birmingham University. Also attending the ceremony was the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham Cllr Mike and Pauline Leddy and Gisela Stuart MP who nominated the service for the Queen’s Award.  

The service was set up in 2009 and in that time, it has gone from strength to strength, with over 100 volunteers working across the hospital. Their ages range from 16 – 72 and they can be found in the main entrance meeting and greeting, on the wards and in departments helping staff, in the milk bank and the gardens. In fact there are not many places within the hospital where you wouldn’t find a volunteer!

Volunteers are not here to replace staff, their role is to provide support and to help enhance the service for our patients. Simple things such as chatting with a patient at the bedside, getting them a drink or helping new mums with their babies can all make a big difference.

Many chose to volunteer as a way of giving something back and there are a number who have had their children at the Women’s, as well as some currently volunteering who are due to have their babies here.

Volunteer, Janet Morley retired from the Women’s in 2009 after 44 years’ service to the NHS and three months later, she was back as a Volunteer. Janet explained, “I wanted to volunteer to give something back to the Trust who had been so good to me during my working life and I had the experience and knowledge of the Women’s. I am now one of the longest serving volunteers and I meet and greet patients and visitors. I enjoy meeting all of our clientele, a smile costs nothing but it means a lot to people who might be anxious or worried coming through the door.”
 
Chief Executive, Professor Ros Keeton commented, “This is a fantastic achievement for the Women’s Hospital and for our volunteers. They selflessly provide their time for the benefit of our patients and the staff. We are delighted to receive this award and I am so pleased that they have been recognised in this way.”

Volunteer Services Manager, Jenny Manley said, “I am greatly honoured and very, very proud to accept this award on behalf of all the wonderful volunteers at Birmingham Women’s who give of their time enthusiastically and compassionately. It is due to their hard work and dedication that the Volunteers Service has flourished and this recognition is magnificent. It is also a testament to how the staff have embraced the volunteer programme.”