27 June 2012
We continue to work together - WRVS and UH Bristol
The following letter was written jointly by the WRVS and
University Hospitals Bristol (UH Bristol) and published in The Post
(Bristol) on 27 June 2012 in response to a comment piece
published in the newspaper earlier in the week:
Dear Sir
We were disappointed to read the comment piece in Monday's
paper: 'Shameful treatment of hospital supporters' (The Post, June
25).
The WRVS and UH Bristol have a long-standing relationship, which
has over the years included a number of WRVS volunteers and staff
working alongside NHS staff to provide services and support
throughout Bristol's city centre hospitals, contribute to the
Trust's volunteering strategy. In addition the charity has
made generous donations towards improvements for patients, recently
this included a donation of £175,000 towards dementia
care.
Our relationship will continue and is not at risk, volunteering
remains central to the NHS. However, things do change and
over recent months, the Trust has been in consultation with the
WRVS about plans to expand some facilities and alter others across
the hospitals. Options under discussion currently include expanding
the existing WRVS shop in the foyer of the children's hospital to
provide hot snacks and light meals, introducing a WRVS drinks kiosk
outside the existing entrance to the BRI and another WRVS sales
kiosk in the atrium of the Bristol Heart Institute. In order
to accommodate the work on the new welcome centre, for the BRI, the
WRVS café on level two of the BRI will close at the end of June and
the WRVS shop, in the same location, will close at the end of
October.
The Trust and the WRVS will continue to work together in new and
existing ways to support the life and work of UH Bristol.
Steven Hargreaves, Head of Regions for WRVS
Deborah Lee, Director of Strategic Development, UH Bristol
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