Visiting Companion (Based at Yeovil Hospital)

The Visiting Companion role has been designed to provide social and emotional support to patients during their hospital stay, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. This role enhances the patient experience by making their time in hospital more pleasant and personalised, while also alleviating boredom. Volunteers offer meaningful interaction that clinical staff may not always have time for due to the demands of their roles. In turn, this allows staff to focus on essential clinical and specialised tasks.

You will join the staff for the ward handover meeting at 2pm, where patients will be identified as benefiting from a visit. You will also have a list in the office of patients who have been identified throughout the week.

This role includes general chatting to patients, along with doing activities if appropriate, such as reading, doing a crossword or puzzle together.