Linda volunteering to thank NHS staff who helped save her life
A cancer survivor has spent the last decade trying to “give something back” to those that saved her life by helping out as a volunteer at Queen’s Hospital Burton.
Linda Poyser volunteers at the hospital twice a week in the Endoscopy department and Discharge Lounge and plays a vital role helping put patients coming in for their appointments at ease.
Back in 2006, Linda was given the devastating news that she had breast cancer but bravely fought back by undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy treatment at Queen’s Hospital Burton and at the former Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
To everyone’s delight, the treatment was successful, with Linda then taking the decision to become a Trust volunteer in 2008, as her way of saying thank you to all of the staff.
She said: “It was a really scary time but all of the staff were just marvellous with me. I’m now a 12 year survivor of cancer and it’s all thanks to them. I could not have had better and faster care if I’d been a private patient. I can’t fault anything; all of the staff were so compassionate and caring. I have so much to thank the NHS for and so I hope that being a volunteer is some kind of payback, in any small way.”
There are around 600 Trust volunteers currently working across each of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton’s five hospital sites, with around 200 at Queen’s Hospital Burton and Samuel Johnson and Sir Robert Peel Community Hospitals.
Linda added: “When I used to come in for my treatment, I noticed all of the volunteers and told my husband that I’d like to help as well, once I got better. I just wanted to give something back but now it’s actually a two-way street and I get a lot out of it too. By helping out, however small, both staff and patients really appreciate what you do and that is so rewarding. It’s a lovely place to work and I’ve made a lot of friends as well. To anyone thinking of volunteering, I’d just say do it, you won’t regret it.”
If you’d like to join our team of volunteers at Queen’s Hospital Burton, Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, or Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital, contact the Voluntary Services team on 01283 511511 ext 3201.