CARING volunteers who provide comfort and support to patients nearing the end of their lives have been praised for the difference they are making, just weeks after the new service launched at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Since September, eight specialist Peony Volunteers have been providing bedside companionship to patients in their final days and hours, and practical and emotional support to their loved ones.
Over the last few weeks, the Peony Service – which is sponsored by the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity and works in partnership with national charity, The Anne Robson Trust – has enabled our Peony Volunteers to visit more than 30 patients, and provide almost 50 hours of bedside support, with hospital staff and families praising their kindness and compassion.
At the official launch of the service on Thursday November 13, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s Peony Volunteer Coordinator, Rachel Colthurst, said: “It’s exciting to have been given the opportunity to take on the Palliative Care Team’s vision to provide bedside company and compassion for those who find themselves in hospital in their final days, and make it a reality with the help of our caring and generous-spirited Peony Volunteers.
“Their willingness to serve with such kindness and commitment is a gift to our patients, their loved ones, and the Palliative Care Team as a whole. In just a few weeks it is clear what a huge difference the Peony End of Life Volunteers are making, and we are absolutely delighted that they are now in post.”
The Peony End of Life Service is currently visiting patients referred by the Palliative Care Team. However, following its initial success, the aim is to extend this to include all patients, hospital-wide, who are on an end-of-life care plan, and from the new year, the Trust will begin recruiting for a second cohort of Peony Volunteers. It is also hoped that the Peony Service will be rolled out at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch during 2026.
An Information Day – sharing further details on becoming a Peony Volunteer – is being held on Tuesday January 13 2026, at the Waitrose Community Room in Worcester.
Visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/volunteer, email [email protected] or call 01905 733159 for more details.
