Lincoln County Hospital needs local volunteers to do activities for cancer patients on its Waddington Unit.
Cancer patients who are cared for on this ward receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and end of life care.
Ward Manager Polly Johnson believes “these activities will be beneficial to treatments” by volunteers bringing their ideas to the ward and getting patients up on their feet and out of their beds.
These ideas can range from “storytelling, yoga, mindfulness, reflexology or any other ideas to help focus their minds on that rather than treatments and diagnosis.”
People just have to do a few hours a week that would massively improve the lives of the patients on the ward.
With the voluntary support, the hospital can ensure that people are getting out of their rooms and moving around which would take away the risks of muscle tone reduces, bad mobility and hospital infections.
Another benefit of the activities can help reduce the amount of time a cancer patient will spend at hospital.
“One in three people with cancer will experience a mental health problem such as depression or anxiety disorders before, during or after treatment.” – quote from the Mental Health Foundation.
The meaningful activities created by the volunteers will also improve a patients stay and mental health.
Patients can suffer from loneliness, nervous about upcoming operations or being in a new environment for around two weeks at a time.
Wellbeing and poor mental health is more likely to rise with communication outside of hospital staff as well as trying out new activities they can proceed to do once discharged.
If you are interested in taking part, go to this link or visit the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust website.
