Posted: 21st October 2020

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust recognise their staff, both on the front-line and in support roles, who do exceptional things every day, delivering high quality and compassionate care, day-in day-out, through their Extraordinary People Awards.

As an extension to this award, this year they have presented Westbank Neighbourhood Friends with a Special Recognition Award.

Nomination: The Neighbourhood Friends team are always willing to provide the RD&E Acute Care of the Elderly Team with support regardless of the task in hand. They are always more than happy to courier medications to patients post discharge so that we do not have to delay inpatient stays. They will transport both patients and equipment which is a huge relief for the patient and their families who worry about how to get everything home.

We have even had neighbourhood Friends assist with clearing a room to allow for downstairs living!

Nothing is too big an ask for them and they wholly deserve to be recognised for this. They very rarely say no and go out of their way to be able to help us.

Nina Parnell, Head of Volunteering and Community Support said: “It is an absolute honour to receive this award for our Neighbourhood Friends staff and volunteers. It is their ‘can-do’ approach to life, which makes this project a success and enables us to help people when they need it most following a visit to or stay in hospital. Thank you to the RD&E Acute Care of the Elderly Team for recognising the support we provide and nominating us for this award”.

Image: Nina Parnell, Head of Volunteering and Community Support with Jaime Brown, Referral Co-ordination & Volunteering Team Manager.