A FORMER health trust technician has returned to his former employer, only this time as a ‘meeter and greeter’.
After retiring from the South Eastern Trust (SET), Sam McFerran decided he wanted to ‘give something back’, and is now a volunteer in the outpatients department at Ards Hospital.
Sam’s role as a meeter and greeter involves him helping to check in patients for their appointments using an online system, helping them to locate the clinic they need to attend and providing that listening ear to those that need it most. Sam said: “When I became a volunteer, I did not know much about the role of a meeter and greeter or what it involved. When I started out, the support I received was amazing.
I was shadowed for a few days and learned so much from that experience. Since then, I have developed my own skills as I have progressed in the role.”Sam shared how rewarding he finds supporting patients arriving for appointments: “Coming to hospital can be a stressful experience for most people and it is so good for me to help put them at ease. It feels good in your heart to know you have given someone comfort, even just a smile, to help ease what lies ahead for them.
“I love meeting people and making new friends. I have always had that desire to serve others. The staff in the Outpatients Department are wonderful to work alongside. I am here three days a week and they make it such an enjoyable experience, I feel like part of the team.
”SET’s volunteer services manager, Sonya Duffy, said: “Having someone welcoming patients into the Outpatients Department makes such a difference and helps put people at ease. Sam’s role also enables staff to focus on their clinical duties while he provides support across the Department.“Volunteers play a crucial role across the Trust, supporting not just patients but staff as well. Many of our volunteers tell us they have made new friends and that volunteering prevents them from becoming socially isolated after retirement. It brings joy and purpose to their lives. We also have many young volunteers who gain invaluable experience.
Sam has encouraged others to consider volunteering: “Come forward and find out what it is like to volunteer. You will fit into any of the roles, there are opportunities not just in hospital settings, but in the community as well. Give it a go.”Anyone interested in volunteering, or for further information, should contact the volunteer services team at volunteer@setrust.hscni.net or call (028) 9056 4817.
