A&E volunteer Jean, 83, wins hospitals Oscar

Hospitals in Hull have been celebrating the work of their volunteers at an awards ceremony and dinner.

Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital have more than 500 volunteers who have clocked up 23,400 hours between them this year, according to NHS managers.

The awards were based on feedback from patients and given to the most inspirational volunteers.

Jean Walker, 83, won the "back from retirement" award after returning as a volunteer following a 56-year career as a nurse. "I do this for the love of it," she said.

Ms Walker officially retired aged 73, having spent the last 40 years of her career in the emergency department at Hull Royal.

Not long after her retirement, she returned to A&E, where she said she felt she belonged, as a volunteer.

"Having been a nurse myself for so long, it really helps as I understand the pressures the teams are under.

"I help wherever I can, stocking up technically for them, making drinks for visitors and doing the jobs staff don't have time to, to allow them to spend more time caring for patients."

Ms Walker said she went in even if she had "aches or pains" because she could not "imagine doing anything else".

Volunteer Denis Lockwood and his cockerpoo Barney received a "Pawesome Pooch" award for spending the most hours in the hospitals visiting patients.

Barney is one of 11 therapy dogs who attend Hull Royal and Castle Hill. They have been praised for having a "miraculous" effect on the wellbeing of patients.

Julie Marshall, who runs a mobile shop at Castle Hill and has raised over £4,000 in the process this year, was also honoured.

Graham Gedney, who has been volunteering since 2002, won an award for "going above and beyond". He supports the emergency department by conducting surveys and spending time with patients and families.

Mr Gedney said volunteering helped "to keep the brain and body ticking over".

"It makes it all worthwhile when people say thank you, and tell you you've made a difference for them," he added.

Rachael Hardcastle-Pearce, who manages the volunteers, said there were opportunities for younger people who wanted to further their studies or career aspirations, as well as for older people who wanted to stay active or continue using skills built up during their careers.

She said the volunteers provided staff with invaluable support and the hospitals would be "lost" without them.

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