Volunteers at QEHB are to benefit from a huge ‘helping hand’ after a fundraising event at the hospital exceeded £2,000.

The ‘Help our Helping Hands’ initiative invited visitors to write messages of thanks in support of the hospital’s 700-plus volunteers in return for a £1 donation.

The messages completely covered a pair of giant hands which were on display in the main atrium of the QEHB from June 11 to 13.

And, at the end of the three days, a total of £2,008 was raised in aid of the QEHB’s Volunteers’ Fund, which supports the army of people who make such a valuable contribution by giving their time for free across the hospital trust.

Voluntary services manager Miss Pat Wilson said: “Everyone is thrilled with the amount of money raised.”

The fundraising idea came from former patient Julia Liddle who has worked as a volunteer at the trust for two years, starting at Selly Oak Hospital.

Julia, who is also an active member of the Patient Carer Council, Volunteer Committee and Volunteer Recruitment Committee, said: “The NHS has saved my life, my daughter’s life and saved my husband’s life three times. So when I retired, I wanted to do something to pay them back.

“There’s always a reason why you do these things, every volunteer wants to give something back.” 

Her husband Brian made the giant hands on display in the atrium.

QEHB Charity has been a long term supporter of the volunteers; in the past donations have paid for a volunteers co-ordinator and the charity continues to fund uniforms and the annual ‘thank you’ lunch event.

Volunteers make a unique and valuable contribution to patients, visitors and staff at UHB. They have become an integral part of many of the ward and department teams across the hospitals and complement the care that staff provide for patients.

Carol Rawlings, the Trust’s Associate Director of Patient Affairs said: “From helping on wards, and supporting the cancer information service to encouraging patients who are exercising in the cardiac gym, we have more than 700 volunteers in a variety of different roles across the hospital.

“It is impossible to measure the impact that our volunteers make on the experience of our patients, their families and visitors, but we know they do a grand job from the many compliments we receive about them.”

QEHB Charity funds equipment, research and training which is over and above that which the NHS provides and aims to make a difference to the lives of patients, visitors and staff at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB). To find out more please visit the QEHB Charity website.