Alice, 95, racks up 50 years of volunteering service with Hemel hospital

Alice Wear, 95, has clocked up half a century of voluntary service with Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

She said: “My 50 years association with the Hemel Hempstead Hospital League of Friends Committee has gone extremely quickly. I’m proud to have been part of a team who’ve secured a portfolio of equipment for the hospital over the years including artwork, wheelchairs, pot plants and tape recorders for the speech therapy department.

“It’s great to see the patients benefiting from our fundraising especially the smaller items of patient comfort which are so appreciated. Little things make all the difference when you are in hospital.”

A total of 11 volunteers were given awards for long service during the lunch on Tuesday, February 24 for those that help out at Hemel Hempstead, Watford and St Albans hospitals.

Among them were two helpers from Watford Hospital Radio who have each clocked up 30 years of helping out.

The chairman of West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust Mahdi Hasan said: “Volunteers are absolutely integral to our hospitals and I would like to personally thank every single one of them for their invaluable support.

“It was my huge privilege to say a special thank you to a lady who has volunteered at our hospitals for 50, yes, 50 years!

“During 2014, our wonderful volunteers donated a staggering 80,000 hours of time and for that, we are extremely grateful.

They help to make the experience of coming to our hospitals more enjoyable for our patients and visitors which is deeply appreciated by everyone who comes into contact with them.

“This annual lunch is a very small token of thanks for a very big contribution the volunteers make in our hospitals over St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Watford.”

Around 500 volunteers, who range from 18 to over 90 years old, help out at the three hospitals.

Together, they provide more than 1,500 hours of their own time every week doing a huge variety of work including, driving patients to and from appointments, serving tea bars and helping out on wards and reception desks.

To find out more about volunteering with the hospitals contact voluntary services co-ordinator Chadwick Livingstone 01923 217307 or email [email protected]