Middlemore Hospital’s RAINBOW Volunteers

Winners of the 2016 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards "Health Care Provider Service Volunteers team”

Middlemore Hospital Rainbow Volunteers was launched in June 2015. With the creation of a brand and identity and an expanded scope of activity, the volunteers at Middlemore Hospital will now be providing much more than a way finding service.

In partnership with services across the hospital, volunteers at Middlemore Hospital are now being strategically placed to help enhance our patient experience.  The success of our programme has been acknowledged when our team was awarded the Winners of the 2016 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards "Health Care Provider Service Volunteers team”.  This award was made possible by the ongoing dedication and support of our volunteers from our community.

There are multiple steps in the patient journey into the hospital and back to the community, where patient care can be enhanced by additional support. Volunteers can provide this support, assistance and guidance, allowing clinical staff to concentrate on the clinical aspect of care.

Some of the things volunteers are doing:

• helping at meal times on the wards
• reading to patients, playing card games or just chatting to/visiting them
• taking patients for a walk and helping them get mobile
• helping with hand hygiene
• Reception /way finding
• admin support and helping with patient surveys
• helping at Kidz First Children’s Hospital.

The volunteer workforce is also seen as a future talent pipeline, for ultimate permanent employment from the community into our organisation, where appropriate, thus contributing to the organisation's Workforce strategy.

If you’re interested email our volunteer coordinator, Priti Naidu (), who will explain the process, which includes a police screening. 

Click here for the volunteer recruitment process.

• Volunteer Recruitment Process (PDF, 302.4 KB)

The group of volunteers at the Manukau SuperClinic and Surgery Centre has been operational for the past 16 years. They are an integral part of our team and work in a number of different areas.

The group that undertake mail room duties are responsible for collecting and delivering mail for all locations within the site.  There are also approximately 10,500 letters that are generated weekly to patients who have an appointment at MSC which they help to insert into envelopes ready for mail delivery.

There are also two courtesy coaches that follow predetermined routes. These are driven by volunteer drivers and this service helps patients who do not have any other transport.

There are two meet and greet roles located at the front desk of both the Manukau SuperClinic and Surgery Centre. These volunteers are the face of both entrances and are always ready to give a helping hand, give directions, or offer a cup of tea or coffee to patients who are waiting for their appointments.

This group of volunteers provides comfort, information and support of a non clinical nature to patients (and their relatives) while they are waiting for or undergoing treatment in the Emergency Department.

The general type of work involves:

•  sitting with, listening to and talking with patients
•  assisting relatives in family (whanau) rooms and supporting them if required
•  keeping a reassuring eye on patients in the waiting room
• offering a shoulder to cry on or a hand to hold
• assisting with dependent (elderly) relatives or children
• helping out with the delivery and serving of meals and cups of tea
• assisting patients by finding them a magazine or the telephone 
• help out with making beds
• assisting with the general tidiness of public areas.

Key requirements of a volunteer are:

• excellent communication skills
• a compassionate and caring nature
• tact and sensitivity
• an appreciation of different cultures and age groups.

If you have what it takes to become a Friend of the Emergency Department, phone toll-free on 0800 St John (78 5646).

Radio Lollipop is an independent international not-for-profit organisation that works with children in the waiting area of paediatric emergency care and the waiting area of the Manukau SuperClinic. They also do several evening sessions on the wards at Kidz First Children's Hospital providing craft and board game activities.

Volunteers visit the children in the wards with games and activities and occasionally organise theme evenings and special guests.

Volunteers need to:

• be willing to attend a compulsory information evening for prospective volunteers held twice a year
• be mature and reliable
• have experience with children and be comfortable around them
• be familiar with a hospital environment.

For further information please contact Radio Lollipop

The Care Clowns are volunteers who provide visits to children on a weekly basis.  They are trained professionals and aware of the complexities for children and their siblings in a healthcare environment.

They work alongside the play specialist with therapeutic play and activities to encourage the children.