THE Trust that runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital is celebrating the ‘tremendous’ work of volunteers as part of National Volunteers Week.

More than 500 volunteers play a crucial part in supporting patients, staff and visitors at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals.

Their roles include everything from lending a hand to the cardiac rehabilitation programme, to ward and hospice support and being a friendly face for patients.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of the trust, says the hospitals wouldn’t be able to get by without the vital contributions of its volunteers.

“We are very thankful for all the time our wonderful volunteers have given,” she said, “whether it is a matter of weeks, months or years; it all makes a tremendous difference.

“All of our volunteers are so important in enabling us to provide outstanding care to our patients, and we simply couldn’t do what we do without them. Though we cannot celebrate with our volunteers with our usual annual tea parties, we are all taking the time to say a big thank you for everything they do.

“We are looking forward to welcoming back some of our familiar faces who haven’t been able to volunteer during this time when normal practice resumes, and to those who have recently joined us, I want to add my personal thanks for becoming part of our team at Hampshire Hospitals at such a critical time.”

This volunteers week, which runs from June 1 to June 7, HHFT is recognising both the army of existing volunteers, and those who have responded to the call for help during the coronavirus crisis.

Gordon Nesbitt is one of the trust’s recent recruits, who has been supporting the busy linen department at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital during the pandemic.

Gordon started volunteering in the linen department at the end of April, after being furloughed from his job and wanting to help his local hospital.

Usually spending his time as an electrical engineer, Gordon has been a welcome addition to the team, where he says he’s learnt a lot.

“It’s been really rewarding to play a small part in a big team effort at a time like this,” he said.

“Everyone has been so friendly, I’d definitely encourage others to continue to volunteer and help our local hospitals – they have shown how they are here for us, and now we can support them too.”

To find out more about volunteering at Hampshire Hospitals, visit https://www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteers