5 July 2014

1. 5 July 2014 Happy National Volunteers Week! In June we celebrated the 30th annual volunteers week by sending thank you cards to all our volunteers, holding a raffle that took place in the conservatory raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and our first ever Pets as Therapy trial. We also had a volunteer of the day for everyday of the weekand their stories are below. A big thank you to you all for supporting Birmingham Children's Hospital over the last year. Pets as Therapy Visit • During volunteers week we were treated to a trial visit from two Pets as Therapy volunteers (Rachel and James) together with their therapy dogs, Cassie and Candy. • They spent two hours in a busy clinic in Heart Outpatients and saw 32 families. • Lots of patients aged between 6 months to 13 years old all wanted to get involved and say hello to the dogs. • The feedback was very positive from patients, parents and the staff in Heart Outpatients. • Quotes from patients included “I feel more chilled than usual visits” “I like to stroke the dog because I have one at home” and “It feels nice and relaxing” • Quotes from Parents included “it distracts children and enables parents to spend quality time in a consultation” “It’s such a good idea, it’s stimulating for children and brings them joy” “It’s fantastic, relieves pressure while you wait” and “It calms children down and helps parents to relax” • Hopefully we will be seeing more of Candy and Cassie very soon! Alfie (pictured below) made the trip up to Heart Outpatients with his Grandmother and his Nurse from PAU especially to see the dogs. Rachel and Cassie also visited Ward 8 at the special request of a patient and her family who have been at BCH since February. Emer(pictured above) spent 45 minutes with Cassie and even walked her as part of her Physiotherapy session. Emer really enjoyed the visit and said “it’s awesome, I feel a lot better”. Kim and Lily Wilkins Sheila and Norman who both retired in 1997 have been volunteering at BCH for a massive total of 36 years between . N them, and have raised £84,000 in the , process! N The couple who have been married for n 51 years love volunteering so they are n not just wasting their time at home. Sgg Norman said “If we can make one h child or parent smile, then it has made n our day” Lily wanted to volunteer at the hospital after receiving treatment as a child. Her mother, Kim came along to the recruitment event to chaperone Lily and ended up signing up herself to volunteer in the Health promotions team. Lily , who wants to study medicine, is a play volunteer on ward 9 she plays games, colours, reads and helps the nurses with lunch. Our Volunteers of the days Sheila and Norman Swan Owen has been a play volunteer since July 2013 and spends every Sunday afternoon on Ward 15. Owen does different activities with patients and siblings to help distract them from the fact that they are in hospital. He likes to make a difference and make our children smile and hopes to become a play worker in the future. The ward have been so impressed with Owen's efforts that they nominated him for the April Star of the Month award! Owen Coupland Louise decided she wanted to start volunteering after 24 years of nursing her father. She now volunteers in the Emergency Department making tea and coffee for families and playing and distracting patients and siblings. On one of Louise's first shifts in ED she supported one family when they had just been told that their child had Leukaemia. Louise stayed with the child so that the their parents was able to speak to the doctors. Natalie Edwards lead nurse said “Louise is amazing she really made a difference to the family.” Louise Pike

2. Trust Values Living BCH values’ is our code of conduct and at the heart of everything we do at BCH for our patients, families, colleagues and teams. Live our values with the statements below.    Dates for your Diary Volunteer open day :24th October 9:30 – 12pm, 1:30-4pm. If you would like to help out or talk about your experiences please contact Lisa (lisa.robinson@bch.nhs.uk / 0121 333 8577) Next film nights : 12th August, 9thSeptember If you wish to get involved please contact Dave Baker (david.baker@bch.nhs.uk / 0121 333 8656) InTent week : 15th – 19th September 9am-5pm – all week in the Conservatory – contact Nayana Mistry if you wish to help out (0121 333 8538) Long Service Awards : 9th October 1pm–5pm – Banqueting Suite, Council House, if you wish to help please contact Nayana Mistry Star of the Month – Pam Kumar Huge congratulations to Pam who won Star of the Month for May, Pam who featured in our last newsletter, was also a volunteer of the day for national volunteers week. We are very proud of her and the work she has done. ID card update Volunteer ID cards are now valid for 3 years, this has been extended from 1 year. If your card stops allowing access to the areas you normally use, please contact Lisa Robinson who can arrange for it to be re-activated. Tel: 0121 333 8577 Email: lisa.robinson@bch.nhs.uk Pam pictured with Chief Executive Sarah-Jayne Marsh after winning her award June was also a proud month for the volunteers as Caroline Shaw was nominated for Star of the Month! Wilson Stuart School visit Caroline volunteers in Main Outpatients and was nominated for the June Star of the Month by Dan Bowen, for offering him support and a listening ear and also the compassion she shows towards the many patients and families attending appointments in this really busy department. She is pictured with Dan who said "It is truly special to discover a volunteer who has chosen to be here in the Trust showing such compassion, not being paid but wanting to be here!  For that I passionately feel she, and indeed the army of volunteers deserve recognition for the often unsung massive contribution they give to the hugely positive patient experience so many have through the Trust.“ Caroline said “I spent most of my working life as a nurse at BCH, and 20 years in OPD, so it is wonderful to be in contact still, and to meet 'old' friends, and to have  time to spend with families.” In June we hosted a visit for some students from Wilson Stuart Special School. They came to see what we do in the hospital and take a look around. Lisa spoke about volunteering and Charlotte Green explained her role as an ArtCart volunteer and what it means to her. The students had a great time and are pictured with Charlotte(middle of back row) Please can you make sure that you are all signing in! The folders are at the main desk in reception – Thank you Our raffle as part of volunteers week was a huge success in raising money for the hospital, We would like to thank volunteer Jan Rathband who helped with managing the stand and walking round the hospital encouraging people to come and buy tickets. We raised £161.41 New Volunteers joining our team.. Roger Simpson – New Scouts and Guides Leader Sarah Cowans – Scouts and Guides Lauren Joiner – Ward 9 Eloise Hammond – Ward 7 Halima Barre – Emergency Department Zakaria Saidani – Emergency Department Radio Lollipop celebrates 35 years by virtually travelling the world. Radio Lollipop Birmingham, at BCH, is the charity’s longest running station, and are celebrating their 33rd birthday this year by raising money through a Miles for Smiles project. They started in May and are travelling over 28,000 virtual miles (45,000 km) to link all 30 Radio Lollipop hospital stations around the world. Volunteers, doctors, nurses, patients and their families will be walking, running, riding, swimming etc. for a year-long fundraiser. Radio Lollipop Birmingham Chairman Aidan Thompson has already run 450 miles this year and has raised over £250. This is an exciting time for Radio Lollipop, a brand new studio will be launched in the autumn in Main Outpatients so watch this space f or more updates!