How Meet and Greet can make a difference

Arriving at a busy hospital for an appointment or visit can be a stressful experience for anyone. For older people, the experience can be particularly overwhelming. 

As a Meet and Greet volunteer, you’ll be at hospital welcome desks to give a helping hand where needed. Since hospitals can be confusing places to navigate, you might need to show someone who is attending an appointment or clinic where to go.

Meet and Greet volunteers are also there to assist people who are visiting patients. Having a friendly face to greet them at what is probably a stressful time can make all the difference.

If English is not their first language, these situations can be even more stressful for patients and visitors. Being able to provide support by speaking to someone in their mother tongue can help to alleviate their anxieties.

The Meet and Greet service also provides some much-needed support for hospital staff. A recent report found that volunteers in hospitals have a vital role to play in improving the experience of patients and relieving pressure on frontline staff. 

You’ll be there to provide practical help, companionship, comfort and support to patients as well as freeing up time for hospital staff to concentrate on their patents’ care.

Meet and Greet volunteering can be flexible enough to suit your needs, whether you want to volunteer once a week for a few hours or every day.