Royal Naval trainees volunteer at local hospital

Nearly 100 sailors from RNAS Yeovilton gave staff and patients at their local hospital some surprise cheer and respite by spending the day with them.

Air Engineering and Survival Equipment Technician trainees made the short trip from the air station to Yeovil District Hospital for a day of volunteering.

Staff assigned the trainees to various wards and departments at the hospital, which admits around 35,000 people every year, and the sailors spread around orthopaedics and oncology wards, worked with the dementia team, helped out in A&E and generally bring some relief and a little cheer into the lives of people recuperating or awaiting treatment.

Among the tasks performed by the volunteers – some of whom had been born in the hospital – were serving lunches and afternoon tea and bed making (including attempting the famous ‘hospital corners’), while a small group could be found in the foyer raising money for the hospital with a relay row.

Air Engineering Technician Daniel Barton joined the dementia team, drawing on his experience from a dementia charity that his mum founded with him to the ward.

“I had a great day – it’s been all about creating a positive social environment where we could just chill out, have lunch and play some games. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did,” he said.

For organiser Chief Petty Officer Nicholas Haines, spending time helping out at the hospital was a chance to “give something back to the community and in some small way return the fantastic support that the women and men of the hospital have given us and will continue to give us in our hour of need.

He continued: “Personnel from Yeovilton quite often require the help of the hospital. My family has used it many times and have always been treated with compassion and respect.

“Where our young people came into their own however was taking the time to engage with the on, have someone help you with a crossword or simply make a cup of tea brings a welcome distraction.”