South Western Ambulance Service joins The Big Help Out this Coronation weekend
To mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation, the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is taking part in The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May.
The Trust will be recruiting new volunteers to join the 600 plus people across the South West already supporting the service.
Every day, volunteers from across the region support SWASFT in patient-facing roles and attend emergencies within their local communities. Sometimes the difference is providing reassurance prior to the arrival of an ambulance; sometimes it is saving someone's life.
The Trust also has several non-patient facing roles, including supporting Welfare Cars at hospitals, by providing refreshments to front line staff and by helping to move Trust vehicles around the region.
Jane Whichello, Head of Volunteering and Community Services at SWASFT, said: “This weekend we celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty The King and the incredible volunteers across the country who support their local communities.
“Across our social media channels on Monday 8 May we will be recognising the important role of SWASFT volunteers and highlighting the difference they make, including Kate Oldham, Community First Responder from Somerset who is trained to use a Raizer Chair to help patients who have fallen.
“Volunteering for SWASFT is highly rewarding and means you’re a valued member of our team. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and learn valuable social and lifesaving skills through the training and ongoing support from the dedicated volunteering team.”
SWASFT is also encouraging people to use the right healthcare service this bank holiday weekend.
The advice is to:
- Continue to call 999 in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
- Visit NHS 111 online for non-life-threatening medical help or advice.
- Make sure you have ordered and collected any repeat medicines.
- Make use of community pharmacies, which can advise on minor illnesses and provide medications. Details of which pharmacies are open over the Coronation bank holiday weekend can be found via the interactive map.
Visitors to the South West are reminded that their first point of call for GP care is their home practice, who will be able to provide online, phone and video consultations as well as arranging for prescriptions to be sent to a pharmacy of their choose.