Across NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, staff and patients have been showing their appreciation for hundreds of pandemic volunteers.

Recognisable in their bright red T-shirts, volunteers have been instrumental in helping run things like give and go points across the region so friends and families could drop off more than 12,000 parcels of essential personal items to patients while visiting was restricted – a task that took over 3,000 hours.

At the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Alexandra Hospital staff and patients have been forming guards of honour over the last few days to show their thanks to volunteers who also helped with tasks such as distributing PPE and charity donations, and ensuring anyone entering a hospital site used hand sanitiser.

Some who stepped up to help during the pandemic established a Glasgow Royal Infirmary newspaper and helped distribute other this and other publications across hospital wards.

Volnuteers outside the Glasgow Royal Infirmary

“Every single volunteer has made a huge contribution,” says Harry Balch, volunteer manager for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“They have made an immeasurable difference and from day one, became an integral part of our service in response to the pandemic.

“As the volunteer services begin to wind down in line with a reduction in covid-19 cases, we will look to retain some of the team in certain roles to help us provide information and guidance to patients engaging with the health service which has undergone such change over a short period of time.”

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