CONTINUING our series focusing on healthcare heroes, we talk to Katie Breen, a Ward Volunteer at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

The teenager is busy in her role, but is very happy to help set patients’ minds at ease, respect their dignity, and provide some extra support to patients and staff alike, if she can, with her volunteer role an important one within the busy hospital.

What motivated you to pursue a career at the SWAH?

I have always found an interest in pursuing a job in healthcare. Once I heard that the SWAH took on voluntary work, I knew it was the perfect place to start my journey in healthcare.

Furthermore, I have family and friends who work in the SWAH, who have spoken highly of their roles there, and I knew it would be a good fit for me.

Could you share a significant challenge you've faced in your role and how you overcame it to provide quality healthcare services?

As a 17-year-old volunteer, the roles around caring for the vulnerable are new.

It’s really important to keep a mature mindset, especially as a young volunteer. This naturally has been a challenge.

To overcome this, talking to other colleagues and volunteers to hear about their experiences and how they have dealt with the situations at hand, has been a great help.

How do you believe your role contributes to the wellbeing and recovery of patients within our community?

Personally, as a volunteer, I feel that one of my main roles is to be supportive. Hospital days can be very long for patients, so coming in and being an extra support for a patient and being someone to talk to makes all the difference.

Can you highlight a particular patient interaction or medical achievement that you are particularly proud of, and why?

There is no particular patient interaction I can say I’m proud of; all patient interactions are different and no one is the same.

I can say for myself and other volunteers that going in and respecting patients and their dignity, along with getting to know them individually, is a rewarding medical achievement in itself.

How do you ensure the delivery of compassionate and effective care in your specific healthcare discipline?

I find it is important to remind yourself that all patients are human, and it does simply go down to the saying, ‘Treat others how you’d like to be treated’.

What aspect of your work do you find most rewarding, and how does it resonate with your personal values and mission?

I find that the most rewarding part of volunteering is, in a person's most vulnerable time, how they are treated will always be remembered.

Being compassionate and empathetic in the healthcare setting is so important as that is what makes the difference to a patient’s experience.

How do you manage the demands of your job, and what strategies do you employ to ensure exceptional healthcare service delivery?

As a volunteer, the demands of the job aren't as high as everyone else around you.

I find it's helpful to remind yourself that the professionals and patients have higher demands and giving them the help you can offer at that time makes the difference.

Have there been any mentors or colleagues who have significantly influenced your practice, and in what way?

I can’t say there has been anyone in particular who has influenced my practice. However, all the staff on my ward have all been encouraging of my role.

They have all made an effort to get to know me, and have given me an opportunity to join in.

This personally has made the volunteering experience positive.

What are your aspirations for the future, and how do you envision the evolution of your role within the SWAH?

I do plan to continue my volunteering role in the SWAH for as long as I can.

As a 17-year-old volunteer, [attending] university with the goal of becoming a paramedic is my aspiration for the future.

Getting the opportunity to work with patients and other healthcare professionals has greatly helped me decide that the healthcare route is for me.

How do you believe your efforts contribute to the overall excellence and advancement of healthcare services in our local community?

I believe that the volunteering roles offered by the SWAH contributes to the healthcare in our community as it provides new skills and valuable work experience to individuals interested in the area of work.