Volunteers are being sought to help support patients in its new state-of-the-art emergency department at Slough's Wexham Park Hospital when it opens in April.

The new assessment centre will be one of the finest facilities of its kind in the NHS, aimed at providing a better working environment for staff and improving the hospital experience for patients.

The roles that the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust are looking to fill are wide-reaching. The vital roles that need filling range from chatting with patients at their bedside, listening to their concerns and trying to reassure them, assisting appropriate patients at meal times and being patient companions.

A minimum of three hours a week will have to be committed per week by volunteers. Every volunteer will undergo a DBS check and complete an occupational health questionnaire, as well as attending an induction session.

Voluntary services manager Mike Stone said: “Our volunteers are very special people. They add an extra dimension to patient care and allow staff to focus on their clinical roles. And of course, their support is especially valuable for those patients without families nearby.

“We know that volunteer patient companions help to reassure people and make what can be a very worrying time a little less stressful for all concerned.

"If you are interested in attending our recruitment event on 9 March, please email me at mike.stone@nhs.net. We look forward to welcoming more people to our expanding band of hospital volunteers.”

A recruitment open morning is scheduled to be held on 9 March from 10.30 – 12.30 in the new facility at Wexham Park. Staff will take prospective volunteers on a tour and demonstrate the activities that will be available for volunteers to help with.