VOTE for the NHS Fife Community Listening Volunteers
NHS Fife Community Listening Volunteers - VOTE NOW
The Department of Spiritual Care within NHS Fife delivers the Community Chaplaincy Listening Service (CCL) offered in 20 Fife GP surgeries and Hospital sites to patients, carers and staff who need emotional and spiritual support. During the pandemic, CCL Listeners also offered staff support to through the Staff Listening Service and supported cancer patients referred by the Improving Cancer Journey Team / Macmillan Cancer Support. As a result of COVID-19, when the volunteer listeners could no longer carry out face-to-face work in surgeries, they offered a telephone listening service to vulnerable patients who needed someone to talk to as they dealt with health issues and isolation.
The last few months have been a difficult and lonely time for many, especially for isolated and vulnerable patients and CCL has been a source of help and support when the usual support services in the community have not been available. Each volunteer offers two or three hours per week. Over the last 18 months they have made around 2,500 phone calls of up to 45 minutes each, listening to stories of suffering while working from home and struggling with their own isolation during the pandemic. Despite the demands on their own emotional health and wellbeing, the volunteers continued to offer the service with empathy and skill, encouraging those in need. In recognition of their work and dedication - the NHS Fife CCL Volunteers been nominated reached the finals of the Scottish Health Awards - People Choice Award.
The People’s Choice Award sponsored by Alpha Solway recognises the extraordinary work of NHS Scotland staff, social care staff and carers in responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Members of the public and staff can vote for the NHS Fife CCL Volunteers through the Scottish Health Award links below which you are invited to use and share widely.
https://www.scottishhealthawards.com/