This National student Day we are shining a light on just a couple of students who volunteer with NHS Lothian.
Idil Ocakcioglu, 24, started volunteering at Astley Ainsley hospital in October 2022. She has shared her experience with us.
What university do you go to and what do you study?
University of Edinburgh – MSc Mental Health and Well-being in Children and Young People
Why did you want to volunteer with NHS Lothian?
The main reason I started to volunteer was because I wanted to gain experience. I would like to work in a clinical setting once I am done with my master’s and I thought that by volunteering at the Astley Ainsley, I could start gaining some experience and learn new skills. I thought that this would be a great opportunity for me to improve my CV and help out the NHS.
What sort of volunteering have you been doing?
I volunteer at the Astley Ainsley in the East Pavilion as a Ward Helper. During my volunteer shifts, I usually talk to the patients, help with the tea trolley, help the patients fill out their menus and prepare and give out the cutlery. Some of the patients are assigned reading homework by their doctors, and sometimes they ask me if I can stay with them while they read.
What is the best thing about volunteering?
My favourite part of volunteering is going around the pavilion and talking to the patients. They always seem to appreciate it and it feels like it’s a good distraction for them as well. Additionally, by talking to the patients, helping out with the tea trolley, menus and cutlery, it means that the nurses and staff can focus on other patients that might need more help, or on the other areas of the hospital, which can save them time too. Overall, it makes me happy knowing that the patients enjoy the conversations we have and that I can help the nurses and the staff save some time.
What would you say to those considering volunteering?
I would definitely recommend it to everyone. Although it’s great helping out the patients, nurses and the staff, it’s also been very beneficial for my personal growth. By volunteering at Astley Ainsley, I stepped out of my comfort zone at the beginning, and it helped me become more confident in social settings in general, but especially in clinical settings. It also helped me gain a lot of knowledge about the things that go on in hospitals and clinical settings.
For more information about volunteering with NHS Lothian and to get involved, please check: NHS Lothian Voluntary Services
