Northumberland Hills Hospital recently celebrated the people behind more than 40,000 hours of volunteer support during its annual National Volunteer Week appreciation event.
Held April 22 at the Best Western in Cobourg, the luncheon was the hospital’s largest volunteer celebration to date, with more than 185 people attending and representing close to 400 volunteers across eight different support groups.
Those groups include the NHH Auxiliary, the hospital board and community committee members, the NHH Foundation, Patient and Family Advisory Council partners, Spiritual Care volunteers, St. John Therapy Dog volunteers, Transplant Ambassadors, and Integrated Stroke Peer Support Visitors.
Hospital President and CEO Susan Walsh told volunteers their impact is felt from the very first moment someone enters the building.
She reflected on her own first experience at NHH, saying being welcomed by Auxiliary volunteers helped shape her positive first impression of the hospital.
Vice President of Patient Experience Jennifer Gillard shared results from the hospital’s second annual Volunteer Experience Survey, showing 96 per cent of volunteers said they feel valued for their contributions, while 99 per cent said they would recommend NHH as a place to volunteer.
Keynote speaker Amy Coupal, CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization, focused on this year’s National Volunteer Week theme, “Igniting Volunteerism,” and praised volunteers for helping support both patients and caregivers.
She also highlighted NHH’s Essential Care Partner program, which helps include caregivers as part of the hospital care team.
Hospital officials say maintaining that strong volunteer spirit remains critical to the future of care in Northumberland.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
