A cuppa and a chat with a friendly volunteer helps patients to relax

A hot drink and a friendly chat with a volunteer can help to put people arriving in hospital for cancer treatment at ease.

The radiotherapy department at Singleton Hospital in Swansea is home to a tea bar, where patients and staff can access hot drinks and snacks.

It is manned by a team of volunteers, who are on hand for a chat with patients and their families, friends and carers.

This week, national Volunteers’ Week, we are highlighting some of the great work being done by people who donate their time to help others.

Pictured: Teresa Lewis is just one of the tea bar volunteers.

In Swansea Bay, volunteers undertake a variety of roles, from meeting and greeting on the front desks to running tea bars, and from providing transport to supporting the chaplaincy service.

They do not replace paid staff but provide an invaluable service in improving the experience of patients and their families.

Ann Humphrey, from Swansea, made the decision to start volunteering 11 years ago, after she lost her husband.

“I wanted to give something back because I had lost my husband, and both of my parents had passed away in Singleton Hospital,” she said.

“Being in the radiotherapy department, I enjoy when the patients come through their treatment, and they come into the tea bar to tell us, ‘we have finished’.

“We see them having gone through all of their treatment.

“It is very satisfying to volunteer here, and you get to make friends with the people you work with. And, of course, you’re helping people.”

Ann Griffiths, from Swansea, has volunteered at Singleton Hospital for the last 14 years.

More recently she has helped to run the radiotherapy tea bar, as well as playing the piano on the dementia ward and helping on the hospital’s front desk.

“I started volunteering because I just wanted to help and do something useful,” said Ann, who volunteers for five hours a week.

“Some patients can be a bit nervous coming in for their appointments but as soon as you start to talk to them, they become calmer.

“The patients are so appreciative of being able to come in and have a cup of tea, especially as some of them come from as far as Milford Haven or Machynlleth.

“I get a sense of satisfaction helping people and calming them and just having a bit of banter with them.

“It’s really enjoyable. It’s a lovely place to work – very cheerful.”

Pictured: Ann Humphrey and Ann Griffiths volunteer at the radiotherapy tea bar.

Teresa Lewis, from Swansea, began volunteering at Singleton Hospital in 2019 and initially visited the wards selling items from the trolley.

“We used to go around the wards with the trolley for two hours, but we wouldn’t get around them all because we would be talking to patients,” she said.

“When Covid hit we weren’t able to go around the wards anymore. But when we came back, I was shown the radiotherapy tea bar and I decided to go there because I could meet more people.

“We serve teas and coffees and sell jigsaws and books to help raise funds for the Swansea Bay Health Charity, as well as keeping the areas clean and tidy.

“We also help out with the staff, if they need any food or drinks for their patients.”

Teresa now helps to run the tea bar for three hours a week and said she always looked forward to her shifts.

“My family and I have always tried to help in the community,” she said.

“I think I should have been a nurse and I just want to give something back.

“We don’t just meet the patients, we meet their partners, carers and families, and we also get to know the staff too.

“I get peace of mind and a sense of achievement, and it just makes me happy.

“If I can put a smile on someone’s face, at the end of the day I feel like I’ve done something good.”

Julia Griffiths, volunteer coordinator for the health board’s volunteer service, said: “Our volunteers in the radiotherapy tea bar are a dedicated and passionate group of people who support patients and visitors during some of the most difficult times in their lives.

“Some of our patients have to travel quite a distance when coming for treatment and it makes all the difference to them when they are greeted by a familiar face with a cuppa and a smile at the ready.”

Cathy Stevens, community support charity officer for the health board’s Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “The volunteers are truly the heart of the radiotherapy department.

“Their friendly smiles, kind conversations, and unwavering dedication create a comforting space for patients during what can be a very challenging time.

“We are incredibly grateful for their efforts, and the funds they raise go directly back into supporting and enhancing care for our patients.

“They make a real difference every single day.”