Hospital Volunteers serve a total of 925 years
Posted Monday, October 15, 2018 2:49 PM
Volunteers who give up their time to provide invaluable support to staff at King’s Mill Hospital, Newark Hospital and Mansfield Community Hospital have been awarded for their efforts at the Chairman’s Long Service Awards this month.
This year’s recipients have in total donated an overwhelming 925 years of dedicated support, with 85 volunteers being recognised for their commitment and long service, which ranges from 5 to 40 years.
The awards were held on the 9 and 11 October at the Oakham Suite in Mansfield. Volunteers were presented with certificates and badges by Trust Chair, John MacDonald. Members of the Executive Team, Governors and staff were also in attendance at the events.
The longest serving volunteers at King’s Mill Hospital were Stanley Pascoe, 81, from Forest Town and Michael Shannon, 66, from Sutton-in-Ashfield who have both volunteered for 30 years.
Stanley initially worked in the x-ray department at the Mansfield General Hospital. He continues to assist the radiology team at King’s Mill and enjoys assisting the reception staff in the department. He said: “It has been brilliant working for the Trust for so long, I really enjoy helping people and being part of the team.”
Michael is a Eucharistic Minister of the Catholic faith and supports the chaplaincy team by holding Holy Communion services on the wards and visiting patients, he said: “It is great to be able to help people and give them comfort when they need it the most. The chaplaincy team are brilliant to work with and it is great to give something back.”
The longest serving volunteer at Mansfield Community Hospital was Sonia Tate, 70, from Mansfield who has volunteered for 35 years.
Sonia is a retired midwife who has volunteered within the Trust for 35 years where she enjoys visiting patients on the wards. She said: “I love what I do, it gives me the chance to help people. It’s nice to have the time to sit and talk to patients and make them feel at ease.”
Chair for Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust, John MacDonald said: “It was brilliant to attend the ceremonies and thank our wonderful volunteers for all their hard work. Our volunteers dedicate so much hard work, time and effort into the Trust, it was great to spend some time thanking them.”