‘The First Smile you see’: NS Health is looking to recruit more hospital volunteers

Three years after Nova Scotia Health welcomed the volunteers in all their hospitals, the number of people wishing to give their time in exchange for supporting patients remains well down where it was before the Kovid -19 epidemic.

The efforts of the Health Authority for the recruitment of more volunteers come out voluntarily in Canada’s hospitals. As Statistics CanadaBetween 2018 and 2023, the hospital voluntarily fell by 47 percent, which is responsible for a decline for epidemic, inflation and shortage of labor.

Lauren Murphy, director of the recruitment and volunteer services in Nova Scotia Health, said, “This is not super surprising” that the volunteer program has not been recovered after being suspended on a large scale for two years at the height of the epidemic. He said that this program is about 58 percent of its pre-political numbers.

“Many people, what you know, had voluntary programs within their units or their special areas, they had to pive them,” he said. “They had to make some changes. And so we are currently in that phase of reconstruction.”

Easily viewed from their red vest, volunteers with Nova Scotia Health interacted with patients and visitors, directly people where they go to the hospital and answer questions.

‘It’s really rewarding’

In small features such as the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow, NS, they contribute to a community that recognizes patients and has close ties with volunteers.

Jane Marshal said, “Whoever does this (this) is really beneficial.”

Marshal was one of the few volunteers who remained during the epidemic. He said that it is difficult to assure former volunteers – many who worked there for years – to return.

“Once you stop it, I find it very difficult to come back,” he said. “You make a habit of getting away from it and it is difficult to bring people back.”

The pools of volunteers need to work from the ground while growing, Murphy said that the program is indicated to encourage that the program may reversed.

Last year, Nova Scotia Health organized its first annual province carrier fair, which was attended by thousands of people, which had several registrations for volunteer service. This year, more than 5,000 people attended the career fair.

“The lineup for booths of voluntary services was usually the longest for the longest time in all our places across the province,” said Murphy. “So definitely renewed interest.”

Murphy said that volunteers are recognized not only the functioning of the hospital, but also as an important part of the overall patient experience.

“Our volunteers are very important for the health of our organization,” said Murphy. “And you know, if you have ever gone to a hospital, usually the first smile you see is a volunteer.”