IN-DEPTH: VOLUNTEERING


AS TIME GOES BY VOLUNTEERING,


Doreen Oldfield has seen many changes through five decades of service as a volunteer for the Friends of Hammersmith Hospital.


W


hat a beautiful shawl, Mrs Flynn. That will make a lovely present,” Doreen says


as she greets one of the regular knitters who produce a variety of garments for sale in the Friends of Hammersmith Hospital shop. Meanwhile, a colleague of Doreen’s calls her over to explain the mysteries of the new cash till. The till has only been in situ a few days, nonetheless, Doreen Oldfield, aged 88, has got the majority of its functions nicely under control. As a key member of the volunteer team, Doreen has ensured trading with patients and their friends and families has been running smoothly since 1965. “I started fundraising at the hospital by selling raffle tickets, I wanted to give something back to my local hospital. When my son was a little boy he was always getting into scrapes of one kind or another and needed patching up after falling off his bike or out of a tree,” Doreen laughs.


Over the years Doreen has seen many changes and medical breakthroughs at Hammersmith Hospital, from the creation of the IVF service which pioneered pre- implantation genetic diagnosis, to the merger forming the Trust in 2007 and the opening of the 24/7 specialist heart attack centre in 2013.


In 2016, Doreen was runner up in the Volunteer of the Year category at the Trust’s annual Make a Difference Awards. Make a Difference awards are given to our staff and volunteers to recognise their hard work, dedication and achievements. To find out more or to nominate a colleague for an award, see the Source intranet or visit our website and search for ‘Make a Difference’.


PRIDE BY ASSOCIATION The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital started in 1950, and were known as The Ladies Association at a time when patients were


“I started fundraising at the hospital by selling raffle tickets, I wanted to give something back to my local hospital.” Doreen Oldfield, volunteer


6 /Pulse


considered ‘honoured guests’. Patients arriving for treatment were greeted not only by a gatehouse keeper, but also by reception staff in a regulation green livery. Sixty-five years on, the Friends’ work is reflected in the management of the main gift shop, selling Friends branded merchandise, cards, toys, wool and baby goods, the Friends flower shop, and a shop selling second- hand clothing and bric-a-brac. Aided by donations and legacies from generous members and patients, the Friends are significant fundraisers towards the purchase of vital medical equipment. For example, in 2014, the Friends awarded £150,000 to the cardiology department for the purchase of a new, electronic mapping system which allows for greater clarity in diagnosing complex heart rhythm disorders. This added to the impressive list of historical ‘firsts’ for the hospital as it was the only facility in Europe to have use of the system at the time. (The purchase was made possible via a fund set up in the memory of patient and Friends member, Maureen Miles.)


“Patients and their families visit our shops, not only to buy essential items, but also because we are always here with a kind word and, when necessary, a big hug,” says Doreen. “I know we are regarded as a world-famous hospital but it’s the importance we play in community life that counts too.”


www.imperial.nhs.uk


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