kaoksheir Volunteers in Hospital
- Author:
Jean Finzi,
Chrystal King and David Boorer
King’s Fund,* ?1.10 The editors have produced a book with twelve contributors, each practical experts in their own field, who have examined in no-nonsense terms the organisation of voluntary services.
The chapter on basic considerations and implications makes one wonder how many management committees have organisers for the wrong reasons, and why, as a result, their schemes are not as successful as anticipated. This book could help them reassess the situation, and set a new course.
Voluntary Service Organisers must become aware of people’s needs, and how these can be linked in particular circumstances to the contributions which willing volunteers can make. This material could also help professional staff to understand the benefits for the patient.
How to go about the job of recruiting, selecting and assessing volunteers, ways of helping to support and protect the volunteer and the patient are all well covered in a chapter which indicates the code of practice, and the ethics for volunteers.
The planning of schemes for the special needs of the elderly patient, the mentally ill and mentally handicapped are all discussed. In all areas, we must not only look at the inward activity, but the vital need to associate the community with the whole patient, their family and social situation ? not as pseudo-professionals, but as people with something to offer other people.
After two months’ regular visiting a patient remarked, ‘We did not think you would keep on coming, but now we can trust you.’ This reflects the whole key to the volunteer service. The sound advice in these 120 pages and 4 appendices provides a practical framework to achieve a successful scheme.
The editors, contributors, and the King’s Fund are to be congratulated; the book can only be ignored at your own peril.
Ian M. Adam uroer? ana direct cash sales: King Edward’s Hospital Fund for London, 14 Palace Court, London W2 4HT (01-727 0581) Direct cash sales only: King’s Fund Hospital Centre, 24 Nutford Place, London W1H 6AN
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