It takes a very special kind of person, like Alice, to provide volunteer support for our hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Originally from Taranaki, Alice has lived in Wellington for over 30 years. A mother of two adult children and a qualified Early Childhood teacher, Alice’s journey into volunteering began after her husband was involved in an accident. His successful treatment and recovery, thanks to the amazing medical professionals at Wellington Regional Hospital, inspired her to give back.
It takes a very special kind of person, like Alice, to provide volunteer support for our hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Originally from Taranaki, Alice has lived in Wellington for over 30 years. A mother of two adult children and a qualified Early Childhood teacher, Alice’s journey into volunteering began after her husband was involved in an accident. His successful treatment and recovery, thanks to the amazing medical professionals at Wellington Regional Hospital, inspired her to give back.
The ICU can be an intense and very scary place for friends and families visiting critically ill loved ones, and our volunteers will often be working alongside people experiencing a great deal of anxiety and stress. Alice’s volunteer work involves providing a calm and reassuring welcome as she manages the reception services for the unit, staggering visitors so as not to overwhelm patients and staff in this high tech area. She also provides other support to the very busy staff, helping to ensure the smooth running of the unit.
Alice explained that stress can manifest in many forms, such as upset, anger, and confusion. Time can seem to drag for visitors anxiously waiting to see their loved ones. As volunteers, they are there to be a kind, calm voice amidst these normal stress responses. And sometimes, a simple act of kindness brings comfort to someone in need. “Volunteering at the hospital has given me the confidence to know that I can be useful when surrounded by very upset and stressed out visitors. One day I passed a box of tissues to an elderly gentleman who burst into tears upon hearing that his wife had got through surgery okay – his relief was just enormous.”
Our grateful thanks to all our incredible volunteers. They make such a positive difference in the lives of patients, their families, and hospital staff, and help build a strong sense of community and well-being within the hospital environment.
Interested in volunteering with us?
He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.