The employees, patients, and volunteers at the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Moorabbin Hospital consider themselves a family – and there was no way a minor thing like a pandemic was going to tear them apart.
Initially COVID-19 meant most volunteers had to stay away from hospitals (in the first year), but five volunteers at the unit were determined to keep working and asked to be fitted for masks and trained in personal protective equipment.
For more than two years, the volunteers continued their regular shifts at the unit, which provides chemotherapy treatment for patients with cancers including head and neck, breast, gynaecological, and lung.
While following infection prevention protocol and keeping a safe distance from patients, the volunteers still provided compassionate support and connection.
Monash Health Volunteer coordinator Jabeen Ali said the group was clearly devoted to the patients.
“When I started in this position and went to the unit, I immediately saw that the volunteers are integral to the team,” she said. “Everybody knows each other’s names and who is doing what. It’s quite wonderful.
“They’ve all been willing to go through the same safety training as employees; they say they just can’t imagine not doing it as the patients need their support.”
Volunteer Jenny Hill has had to learn how to apply full PPE as part of her role during COVID-19.
Volunteer Jenny Hill has dedicated many years to Monash Health, having managed Ronald McDonald House at Monash Medical Centre for 15 years before retiring in 2008. Soon after, she joined the chemotherapy unit as a volunteer.
“I worked with many families of children who had cancer, and I decided I wanted to work with adult patients,” Jenny says. “I wanted to keep working there during the pandemic. I knew it was a safe environment, and I really felt for all the patients who in ordinary times could have a support person with them but were now doing it all alone.”
Her volunteer colleagues – Jan Walsh, Mary Dodin, Sylvia Ephraums, and Lauren Hyde – agree.
Patient Liz loves seeing the volunteers. “Just having them here to have a chat makes such a big difference,” she says. “And they provide so much support to the nurses and PSAs, who are already busy.”
Acting Nurse Manager Emily Mead describes the volunteers as valuable team members, and says their commitment during the pandemic highlighted their dedication.
“The volunteers provide patients with much needed company and distraction while undergoing extensive chemotherapy treatments,” Emily says. “They help patients to feel supported and connected throughout their care with a friendly and familiar face.”
Monash Health was delighted to celebrate National Volunteer Week, which ran from May 16-22. An annual volunteer lunch was held at the Southern Golf Club to thank our volunteers for their commitment to Monash Health.
The CDU volunteers are just a few of the organisation’s hundreds of volunteers (pre-COVID). Monash Health will soon be recruiting new volunteers to continue the exceptional legacy volunteers have been providing Monash Health for decades.