The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust are looking for people to join their new Response Volunteer Scheme at their hospital sites in Shrewsbury and Telford. Volunteers that can respond to service pressures and demands will provide key support to wards and departments, particularly in the difficult winter months, when we see a high rise in demand.

Response volunteers are assigned to a hospital rather than a specific ward or department. These volunteers carry a mobile phone, which means staff can contact them from across the hospital to provide help where it is most needed, when it is most needed. They will be able to do a wide variety of tasks including pharmacy runs, tasks to support the discharge team, delivering patent belongings and messages to the ward and supporting staff welfare.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role and our application process, please contact the Public Participation Team on 01743261473 or email sath.members@nhs.net.

An appeal has been made for people keen on sewing to help make sleepwear for patients at Shropshire’s two acute hospitals.

The nightwear will be for those patients who do not have a spare change of clothes because COVID-19 restrictions or isolation has meant relatives are not able to get to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Instead they will be able to wear the gifted nightgowns or pyjamas instead of a standard hospital gown whilst in hospital, and when they are discharged home.

Joanne Yale, Head of Facilities at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, said: “We are appealing for anyone who likes to sew to help our patients and we would welcome night gowns and pyjamas.

“These would be gifted to patients who do not have access to their own nightwear, and this is especially useful when they are discharged as they can take them home with them. 

“Relatives often may not be able to drop off items because they live too far away and are restricted due to COVID-19, or they may be isolating. If we are able to gift their loved ones some nightwear, families will know they have access to a change of clothes that isn’t just a standard hospital gown – but nightwear that is homely, and theirs to keep.

“Any nightwear would need to be small, medium, large or extra-large in size, easy to wear and should be able to provide a high degree of modesty – with no loose threads. They also need to be made from fire retardant material.

“Our fantastic communities have greatly supported our hospitals so much throughout this pandemic by gifting many different items for our staff, and we thought it would be wonderful if they were able to help once more.”

The Trust would also gratefully accept new, shop bought gowns and pyjamas if they fit the same criteria (easy to wear, high degree of modesty, no loose threads and made from fire retardant material).

Anyone who would like to help should please contact we.supportsath@nhs.net or call 01743 261473