Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals
“A short note to say a big thank you to members of your team. I was a long way from home during my stay in Truro Hospital and your befrienders visited me on a regular basis. This helped, not having the family around, and was very much appreciated. I will never forget the care I received in Truro Hospital and the kindness of the befrienders.”
The Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospital (a voluntary organisation consisting of several hundred dedicated volunteers), formed in 1940, works to provide companionship and support for isolated patients who stay at the hospital through their Befriending Service.
The objective of this service is to make the patients' stay in hospital as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Befrienders provide company for patients and often engage with patients through leisurely activities, such as letter writing, reading, and games. Additionally, befrienders may also run small errands for patients who need it. This includes buying newspapers, posting letters or collecting grocery. The service is responsible to the committee of the Friends, voluntary services, pastoral services, British Red Cross, hospital staff, directorate senior nurse, volunteer coordinators, and the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS). These groups have come together to form the befriending operational management group - a strong example of working in partnership.
Over the years the Friends have grown and now offer volunteering in the coffee bar, library trolley, meet and greet, mealtime companions, hospital guides and pastoral visits to name a few. In 2019, their volunteers generously gave over 100,000 hours of their time, and, among many other duties, gave away in excess of 76,000 complimentary drinks to patients and visitors.
They also fundraise by doing coffee mornings, golf days, film shows and tombolas. Over the years the Friends have donated millions of pounds in equipment and comfort items for staff and patients, items that otherwise would not have been funded by the NHS.
Quotes
“Here I am sending you a few lines. It ís to say a very big thank you for all your kindness to me in hospital. I appreciated your visits to me, always with a smile on your face.”
“Many thanks for the rapid and reliable service you provided whilst my daughter was in the ward. It was a great assistance to us as a family at a difficult time.”
“This kind of project is not something that should be taken lightly and a lot of marketing was involved, but we were very pleased with the results.” — Steven Matthews, producer of the Cornwall Beside the Sea Calendar
Created 15th January 2013. Updated 2021
The Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals benefit from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
