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Meet Peter

During his early career, Peter worked for several large and complex organisations in property and service management, and later led several successful professional services businesses. Peter became a Pets As Therapy volunteer at KHFT in 2019 hoping to be able to use his professional experience to help the hospital grow and flourish.

“As a volunteer, I am fortunate to be able to witness first-hand the commitment, professionalism, determination and good humour of all the Trust’s staff, both medical and non-medical, as they go about their work, under the most testing of circumstances. I’m also fortunate to be able to facilitate the huge and positive impact that the PAT dogs have on the hospital experience of patients, relatives, friends and staff. For me it’s a privilege to be able to work in the Hospital, and support the fine work they do”

Since joining as a volunteer, he has undertaken a number of other volunteering roles in the hospital and at the end of 2024 became an elected Governor for Elmbridge.

Meet Gregory

Greg joined KHFT as a Dining Companion on Derwent Ward while he was preparing for entry to university. Whilst volunteering he supported countless patients during his shifts and acted as a buddy to support new volunteers to learn the ropes.

“I am doing great! I love medicine and am still so grateful for the opportunity you gave me to volunteer. It is true that very few hospitals across the UK have volunteering programmes, let alone ones as well organised as yours. I am extremely lucky to live near Kingston, and for the chance you gave me to really make sure I liked being in hospital before I committed the rest of my life to that work environment”

Greg is now entering his 2nd year of medical training and has experienced first hand how the involvement of being a volunteer has made him a better medical student and will no doubt in the future make him a better doctor.

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Volunteer to Career

An exciting Volunteer to Career (VtC) programme is due to be launched in the New Year supporting overseas Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), namely physiotherapists, who lack experience and exposure of working in the UK/NHS.

 

These volunteers will be supported with career support and interventions such as career conversations with clinicians, mentoring, information and guidance on career paths, employability support e.g., interview skills. The aim of the volunteer role on this pathway is to assist and support staff in both community and ward settings to meet the needs of patients; regain their confidence, help (re)connect them with their hobbies, interests and independence and enable staff more time to carry out their duties, it will also provide reassurance to clinicians that patients are less likely to decondition and reduce hospital admission.

For more information or to register interest in this opportunity, please email hrch.volunteering@nhs.net.

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Explore volunteering opportunities in Kingston & Richmond

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