And these hours alone do not account for the millions more contributed by volunteers working in areas of health care outside of NHS Trusts. Volunteers are involved in a variety of health care initiatives that complement the paid work of health care staff. Many of us are familiar with the more traditional involvement of volunteers in hospitals who make our stays more pleasant. Volunteers who sell chocolate bars in the hospital shops, deliver the daily newspapers or help out in the chapel. In fact these traditional areas of volunteering are still the most common areas of involvement for volunteers in NHS Trusts.
Volunteers also help out in the community.
People give up their time to drive people to their outpatient appointments, befriend people with mental health problems, and speak up about issues that affect patients and their GPs through patients' participation groups. Others choose to volunteer with those who are terminally ill in various hospices up and down the country. When we're worried about our health, volunteers can provide a great source of support and comfort. All these volunteers require managing and there are voluntary service managers and volunteer co-ordinators working in both the public and voluntary sectors, to provide excellent services while developing innovative and exciting projects. It is also hoped that more people with be encouraged to volunteer in a wider range of health care projects within a supportive organisational and managerial infrastructure.