Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Trust

Josie Rothwell was on one of her regular outpatient visits to St. Peter’s in October 1992 when she saw a notice in the League of Friends shop window appealing for volunteers.  She enquired – and got the job!

Josie, of Walton, mans the till two afternoons a week and enjoys it so much she would recommend it to anyone.  She was still doing a three-day week in Bentalls when she began her volunteering career. Later she was also a receptionist for her daughter’s Addlestone Natural Healing Clinic.

Said Josie: “I came for treatment and saw the notice and volunteered. The shop has had lots of improvements since I started and the increased range of stock has been tremendous.  We didn’t have frozen meals and food like that, which we do now.  I would recommend volunteering to other people.  We have lovely staff and the patients appreciate all that we do.”

Said the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals volunteer’s manager Karen Marsden: “We have more than 500 volunteers working in our hospitals, and we cannot thank them enough for all that they do.  Our volunteers have a huge variety of skills and talents that are put to good use every single day of the year – and some evenings too!  Some work behind the scenes in offices and others enjoy the patient contact with ward work or reception duties – the scope for them is enormous.  There are very few aspects of hospital life that do not benefit from the support of a volunteer.  The WRVS, the Red Cross, Hospital Radio Wey and the two Leagues of Friends at Ashford and St. Peter’s are the backbone of our volunteering service and at this special time of year we like to thank them all publicly for their unstinting support.”

To find out more about volunteering at the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust readers can call Karen Marsden on either: 01784 884227 or: 01932 723239.