Pat Hind, 83, was recently presented with a hamper for her dedicated support to patients, carers and families – and she has vowed to continue her good work.
“I’ve always had a strong desire to help others and I really enjoy volunteering. I think the best thing is meeting people and helping to lighten their load,” she said.
Inspired to get involved
Pat, from Coundon, started her volunteering journey at Auckland Park Hospital, a specialist mental health hospital for older people run by our Trust, back in 2006.
She had taken retirement due to her husband’s ill health and, following his recovery, was inspired to get involved after hearing a church talk about volunteering.
“I had a vision of sitting at someone’s bedside talking to them – I knew this was something I could do, especially talking!” She said.
Pat volunteered at Auckland Park Hospital for 14 years until 2020 when the pandemic hit. Reflecting on her time there, she said: “I really enjoyed volunteering at the hospital and found it very rewarding and fulfilling. I felt like I got a lot more back than I gave.
I would help the hospital chaplain with the services, sit with patients and talk, sing, or do activities with them. I would go upstairs to see the long-term patients and introduce myself to their families. I made sure I talked to them as well, as they were suffering too.
Making a difference
Thinking about the positive impact of volunteering, Pat said: “I remember walking through the large corridor at Auckland Park Hospital during one of my volunteering shifts. It was all quiet when I saw a lady sit down on one of the chairs. I said to her, do you mind if I sit next to you. She replied, ‘do what you like, I’ve got nothing to say’. I sat with her for 20 minutes. She didn’t say anything, and I didn’t say anything. When I got up to leave, the lady shook my hand and thanked me for sitting with her. It made me realise that some people just need you to be there.”
Since COVID, Pat has been volunteering from home as a check and chat volunteer. She provides weekly phone calls to mental health patients who are vulnerable, isolated, or lonely, and living in the community under the care of the Trust. She said: “When I started to volunteer for check and chat, I thought it was just about talking, but it’s actually more about listening and knowing when to be quiet. It’s understanding and listening to what people are going through.
“I think it helps if you’re outgoing and have got something to say. You might be the only person who they talk to.”
Four years is the longest time that Pat has spoken to the same patient through check and chat: “I’m allocated one patient at a time and ring them once a week for up to an hour,” she continued.
I have no idea what they look like, but we form a bond with each other.
“They tell me they can tell me things that they wouldn’t tell anyone else, even staff. It’s nice for me to listen to them and I feel like I’m doing some good.”
Pat says that her volunteering fits around her lifestyle and family commitments. She not only has husband Neville, two sons and three grandchildren to keep her busy, she also has an active social life, enjoys walking and is devoted to her church.
Going the extra mile
Throughout her life Pat has always generously given her time to help others and gone the extra mile for people.
After staying at home to bring up her two sons, she worked as a warden of sheltered accommodation in South Church for 12 years, helping older residents live independently in the community and being on call for emergencies. She was passionate and dedicated and went above and beyond, running errands for the residents in her own time.
As her children grew up, she also volunteered at a church playgroup two mornings a week. After the playgroup closed, she wanted to continue working with children, so she contacted a friend who owned a private nursery and immediately volunteered to help.
Knowing her extensive experience and background, her friend insisted on paying modest Pat as a nursery nurse rather than taking her on as a volunteer. Pat worked in the baby unit at the nursery, until she was 65, where she was affectionally known as ‘Nana Pat’.
Since then, she has given thousands of hours of her time volunteering at our Trust.
Lisa Cole, inclusive community engagement lead in the voluntary services team, said: “Pat is one of our oldest volunteers and we’re delighted to celebrate her long service.
Our amazing volunteers make a huge difference to the Trust and our patients’ lives. We really couldn’t achieve what we do without them. We’re very grateful for Pat’s support and her vital role in spending time talking and listening to our vulnerable patients.
“We currently have around 240 volunteers who generously give their time, energy and passion to support our services and teams throughout the Trust. Volunteering is such a simple and thoughtful thing for someone to do but it can mean so much.”
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