Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Could you spare a few hours each week to help bring a little comfort to hospital patients? Volunteering for Health, Hywel Dda University Health Board’s volunteering scheme, are seeking to recruit volunteers to help maintain shop trolley services in Glangwili and Prince Phillip Hospitals. The service is looking for volunteers between the hours of 8.30am to 12.30pm from Monday to Friday. Volunteers will be required to deliver shop goods to inpatients, and also load/ unload the trolley. David Fretwell, Head of Volunteering Services said: “The much loved trolley services in our acute Carmarthenshire hospitals rely on the help of volunteers, and provides inpatients with access to home comforts such as newspapers, confectionery and toiletries. “We’re keen to hear from anyone who can spare a few hours a week to help others. “Volunteering for Health not only benefits our patients, but also the volunteers themselves, who find it rewarding and helps them to gain experience for their future care...

Volunteers and staff at Bronglais Hospital’s Ty Geraint are offering support to patients. The Living Well Support Group meet at Aberystwyth Leisure Centre, Plas Crug on the first Tuesday of every month. Run by Volunteering for Health volunteer Carol Smart in conjunction with the palliative care team the group aims to support people living with the effects of life limiting illness: patients, carers, relatives and friends. Carol said: “There is usually an activity on offer such as drawing, crafts, tai chi, singing and artists from ‘Haul’, Hywel Dda Arts in Health group are regular presenters – but there is always time for coffee and chat. Gudrun Jones, Art Therapist, palliative care at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Getting involved in the arts and creative activities is more and more recognised as a beneficial strategy for dealing with the affects of illness which can have life changing long term side affects.” One group member said: "The group brightens my day and ge...

Do you like talking to people? If the answer is yes and you have a just a few hours a week to spare then you could be just the person Cardigan Hospital is looking for. Hywel Dda Health Board’s Volunteering for Health Service is recruiting activity and befriending volunteers for the hospital and has a recruitment information day arranged for you to find out more. As an activity assistant you will encourage patients to participate in a variety of stimulating and ‘therapeutic’ activities and work with staff to produce innovative and stimulating activities aimed at the rehabilitation of patients prior to discharging them home. Befrienders help patients to read and enjoy such things as crossword puzzles and jigsaws. Volunteers will also assist in distributing meals and encouraging patients to eat and drink regularly helping to maintain their nutrition and hydration needs whilst with us, as well as providing an opportunity for the patient to chat. Lesley Oldale, of Volunteering for Healt...

Hywel Dda Health Board | Volunteering for Health helps young people get recognised Young people volunteering for Hywel Dda Health Board now get a nationally recognised certificate for their work. Volunteering for Health the Health Board’s volunteering service are now registered to deliver Millennium Volunteers. This is a scheme which provides certificates for 50, 100 and 200 hours completed by 16-25-year-olds. The last of the certificates is signed by the First Minister of Wales.