For most people, getting out of hospital is something to look forward to – but coming home after a long stay as an in-patient can be daunting.
Frank Higgins
|
Frank Higgins, who was discharged from Addenbrooke’s recently, remembers what it was like for him: “It was a pretty desperate situation: I was very frightened. I was weak, going home with an open wound, and quite incapable of helping around the house. I didn’t know if we’d be able to cope.”
That’s where ‘Welcome Home from Hospital’ comes in. “Not everyone has relatives or neighbours nearby who can support them,” says Hilary Johnys, the charity’s coordinator. “We’re here to help. Sometimes people just want a visitor to call in for a chat and check that they’re ok, but our volunteers can make themselves useful in lots of ways: anything from doing some shopping, cooking and housework to helping sort out the paperwork that’s built up whilst someone was in hospital.”
“Our volunteer was simply a super lady,” says Frank. “She knew exactly what we needed, and she was utterly willing to help. We were extremely grateful.”
“We’ve been helping Addenbrooke’s patients for over a decade,” adds Hilary Johnys. “More and more people need us each year – which means we need more volunteers. If you’re interested in helping, please get in touch.”
|
