Quietly going about their daily business is an army of volunteers which play an integral part in the lives of patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
When the Shrewsbury League of Friends was set up 45 years ago, in England’s World Cup winning year of 1966, it took them five years and a lot of hard work before their first shop was opened at the hospital.
In 1971, with only a handful of members making up the Friends group, they opened up their shop in the south hospital with helpers taking just £28 in the first day.
Volunteers Tony Plenty and Jonquil Wall
But since then the charity has gone from strength to strength and the League of Friends now has four shops at various location around the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital which is manned by over 200 volunteers at different times of the week, as well as a few paid helpers.
From starting with the basic foundations in the 1960s, the service now only closes its doors two days a year – on Christmas Day and Boxing Day – and is open daily from 9am until 7.30am selling a whole range of goodies for staff and patients.
Over the years they have ploughed over £8 million back into care and their shops rake in more than £700,000 annually, all of which is used to improve the standard of care for patients.
Not content to confine themselves to their four shops, volunteers also take a trolley service around all the hospital wards taking with them daily newspapers, magazines, confectionary, drinks and a selection of toiletries – all designed to make patients as comfortable as possible.
Due to the size of the RSH, the trolley runs can sometimes take up to four hours to complete.
Marie Morris, a trained psychiatric nurse who takes out the trolley service every Thursday morning, said: “I see my main role as bringing a smile to patients’ faces and brightening up their day.
“Many patients we visit are very sick and some may not receive any visitors so it’s a very rewarding job to feel that we have helped to improve their day in some small way.”
The trolley service started more than 30 years ago and was also extended to the Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and Monkmoor Hospital until both of them closed their doors.
Volunteers say that patients really look forward to the daily visits which help to brighten up their day.
Marie, who takes out the trolley service with Brenda Roberts, sang happy birthday to a 95-year-old patient a few weeks back which left the lady overjoyed.
The growing army of volunteers say how much they enjoy the banter with some of the patients. June Simmons and Elaine Leedham say they always look forward to taking out the trolley around the wards where they often have their ‘leg pulled’.
Elaine added: “It’s such a rewarding job and we really feel we make a difference to people.”
Many of the helpers for the friends group carefully divide their time between full and part-time jobs, as well as having their own families to look after.
From starting with very little, the Shrewsbury League of Friends has become a respected and vital asset to the RSH, testament to the hard work put in behind the scenes over the years.
The group is now looking to extend the trolley service to cover more days. To offer your services call Sue Hurdiss on 01743 261007.
By David Seadon