Volunteers' news

Queen’s Hospital Burton now has a brand new transport buggy available to help ferry our patients to different corners of the hospital.

The buggy started giving lifts to our very first patients this week, in a bid to help those who are less mobile get to their appointments on time and in comfort.

Painted bright purple and driven by a friendly member of the Trust’s amazing volunteer team, the buggy is impossible to miss and is available to ferry people between the main entrance, the Chest Pain Unit and the new Treatment Centre.

One of the trained drivers behind the wheel is volunteer Godfrey “Goff” Law, who recently joined our team of 70 volunteers across Queen’s Hospital Burton, Samuel Johnson and Sir Robert Peel Community Hospitals.

“My wife already volunteers here and has done so for quite some time, so I thought that I ought to try and help people that needed it too,” said Goff.

“I think that the buggy is an excellent idea, and I think that, in time, a lot of people will benefit from this – hopefully, they will be heavily used!”

The buggy service will be available to visitors on weekdays, from 9am – 4pm, and will operate on a route around the perimeter of the QHB site for those who need assistance, although it is not able to travel within the hospital corridors.

UHDB currently has around 150 volunteers working across our five hospitals, and a number of these will now receive training to operate the new buggy, which has been funded by Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity and will hopefully play a key role in improving patient experience going forward.

Duncan Bedford, Executive Managing Director in Burton, said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to our amazing volunteers for all of their hard work, as well as Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity, who have helped us to introduce this new service. It’s quite a long way to go from the front of the hospital down to the Treatment Centre, so the buggy will make a massive difference to our patients and hospital visitors.

“I know that our patients really appreciate the similar buggies that we have at Royal Derby Hospital, so it is fantastic for Burton that we’ve now got this facility available to assist our patients here at Queen’s Hospital too.”

Tim Diggle, Charity Operations Director at Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity, said: “Hospitals are often large and sprawling places, so it can be quite daunting trying to walk from the bus stop or car park to your appointment, particularly if you are not sure where to go.

"The buggy service will really help those who struggle to walk any distance, as well as giving them the reassurance that the buggy driver knows exactly where to take them. Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity is delighted to be able to fund this new initiative, knowing it will be a real help to patients who need it most.”

The buggy takes about seven minutes to loop around QHB via the three stops, although if anyone requires transport urgently and needs to hitch a ride, volunteer drivers can also be called on 07385375884, where you can then leave a message.

Simon Passam, Voluntary Services Coordinator for Burton sites, said: “This is a great initiative that we’ve been trying to launch for quite a while, so now that we’re in a position to bring some of our volunteers back, it’s going to be great for improving patient experience.

“All of the patients that have used the buggy so far have given us really positive feedback. We’re really excited about this project and would like to say a huge thank you to Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity, who have been brilliant.”

Due to the current restrictions in place, no more than one person or two people from the same household will be allowed to be transported at one time. All passengers must wear face masks and must also be seated at the rear, in order to comply with social distancing regulations.