Volunteers who work at Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI) and St Luke’s Hospital have been honoured in a thank-you ceremony at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Awards were given out to 35 volunteers with five, 10, 15 and 20 years’ service at the event hosted by Chief Executive Miles Scott.

Susan Haddad of the Friends of the BRI, was named Volunteer of the Year for her unstinting work on the Foundation Trust’s ward 30 (elderly). Susan also spends time each week bringing the volunteers’ ward trolley around the BRI’s many wards so that patients can purchase items at their bedside.

Lead Nurse for Practice and Professional Development in Elderly Care, Jill Hoyle, who nominated Susan, said: “Susan specifically requested to join elderly care as a volunteer as she yearned for the caring environment of the ward and since she joined the team, around a year ago, she’s made a huge difference during what is a relatively short space of time.

“Staff can hear her every Thursday and Friday chatting away to patients about all sorts of things and her southern accent draws in more patients to enquire about her origins. If she’s not chatting to patients then she’s usually attached to a trolley of some description, either making hot drinks for the patients on our ward or taking the confectionery trolley around the wards of the hospital and chatting as she goes.  

"She is always punctual, reliable and nothing is too much trouble. She always has a big smile on her face and a kind word for patients. She is such a worthy winner of Volunteer of the Year and we hope to avail of her services for many years to come.”

Susan, who worked in London for many years as a microbiologist, volunteered to join the Foundation Trust after retiring to Bradford with her husband to spend more time with their grandchildren.

Joint second place went to Sophia Nanou and Tina Walker.

Sophia, a Student Volunteer on Ward 2 clocked up more than 100 hours during her placement, while Tina Walker works as a Patient Support Volunteer on Ward F5 at St Luke’s.

Third place went to Jean Chapman, a Patient Support Volunteer on the BRI’s Ward 1.

All the winners received a glass plaque, a certificate and gifts.

This year, there was also a ‘one off’ Special Recognition Award for Barbara Cawood, Chairman of the Friends of St Luke’s.

Adele Hartley-Spencer, Clinical Service Manager for the Foundation Trust’s Outpatients and Patient Administration department, who nominated Barbara, said: “On November 30 last year, when the bad weather hit, there were a significant number of patients stranded in the Adult Outpatients Department at St Luke’s. Some had to wait many hours before we could make suitable arrangements to transport them home safely. During this time Barbara stayed behind and ensured that all the patients were kept comfortable and supplied with tea, coffee and toast which was essential for the diabetic patients who hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast.  

“Barbara spent a considerable amount of time making sure that provisions were available and ensured that patients were kept up-to-date regarding weather conditions.  She stayed in the department until the last patient left at 7.30pm.

”Barbara is special because she puts other people’s needs before her own. She demonstrates a real Dunkirk spirit and is a great advocate for the volunteer team.”