Hospital helper's own cancer story calms patients

Pat Rayner, pictured front left with other volunteers at Walsall Breast Cancer Support Group, has helping women with breast cancer for 40 years

A cancer survivor who uses her position as a hospital volunteer to show patients the illness can be beaten is among the hundreds of helpers forming the "heartbeat" of the NHS in the West Midlands.

NHS bosses have praised the 450 or so people who give up their time to support sites in Walsall and Wolverhampton each year, describing volunteers such as Pat Rayner, 77, as "hugely valued".

Mrs Rayner, a breast cancer support volunteer, said: "I think it's nice to give back once you've come through something - it helps other people as well to see that you're still around."

Hospitals say they are keen to match new volunteers with suitable roles.

Mrs Rayner, who lives in Willenhall in Walsall borough, supports women with breast cancer 40 years after she recovered from the same disease.

She gives her personal phone number to patients she meets during monthly Walsall Manor Hospital visits, and at a charitable support group run by Walsall Breast Cancer Support Group. She often gets calls.

"They know they can phone you up at any time if they're feeling down," she said.

"They might say they're worried about hair and chemotherapy, and different drugs, and if they come to the support group they're bound to find someone going through the same thing."

Pat Rayner, far right, picture with another volunteer and hospital staff in 2019 after the charity donated digital thermometers

The support charity, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Bloxwich Golf Club, has also raised funds for Walsall Manor's cancer ward.

Mrs Rayner said she had been inspired to help others after she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 37 and at a support group met a woman who had undergone a mastectomy.

At the time, nobody spoke about living with cancer, she said. "It was very scary at the time, which is where a support group comes in... we've helped no end of members."

She acknowledged she was "probably one of the longest-serving volunteers" at the hospital, adding she would keep going for as long as she could.

"I think once you start doing volunteering you carry on for quite a bit... It is very rewarding," she said.

Adam Jackson, from Wolverhampton, saw volunteering at his local hospital as a stepping stone to paid work

About 200 people do unpaid work each year at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHT), with a further 250 helping out at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT).

Adam Jackson, 25, who now has a paid job after working for free for 10 months at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, said volunteering had given him "a real confidence boost".

Mr Jackson, from the city, initially volunteered on the New Cross staff wellbeing hub and also the discharge lounge, serving refreshments and chatting to patients waiting to go home.

He has worked his way up to becoming a paid theatre support assistant at the hospital and said he enjoyed keeping patients calm before operations.

"Volunteering with RWT gave me a real confidence boost when it comes to meeting and working with new people, as well as experience for a hands-on style working environment," he said.

Andrew Rice, head of Patient Voice at WHT and RWT, said hospitals would work with volunteers to find roles aligning with "not just what we need but also what they're looking for".

He said it was important to give patients time to talk to people who were not medics.

"The volunteers are the heartbeat of the [trusts], their contribution to different services never goes unnoticed, and I can't thank them all enough for their hard work and commitment," he added.