Niamh – Volunteer Rehab Assistant

Eighteen year-old Niamh Sargent has been volunteering at the Hospice since September 2016. Currently on a gap year before she goes to university to study medicine, Niamh’s time at the Hospice has given her the opportunity to learn and develop her skills.

Niamh explains: “Working in Orchard has been a good opportunity for me to learn about how the Hospice works. As a volunteer rehab assistant I have been able to get involved with physiotherapy, occupational therapy as well as breathlessness, rehabilitation training and carrying out wheelchair assessments. I also help out with admin too.

“I have also had the opportunity to help a patient who was on the ward with pressure movement, I really enjoyed working with him and for me personally I enjoyed being able to see the difference the sessions were having.

“Been able to work in Orchard, on the ward and in the community will be really helpful when I start to study medicine, it will make a big difference. Seeing how the different teams interact and how they work alongside each other has been really interesting.”

Niamh, who hopes to start reading medicine at Imperial College, London in October, volunteers on a Tuesday and Wednesday and has in the past completed work experience at the Hospice too.

“I just find volunteering at the Hospice really rewarding, the Hospice is such a happy, nice and relaxing place and it is good to be part of that. As well as gaining medical knowledge and experience, being at the Hospice has also allowed me to meet a lot of different people.

“I love chatting to the patients, getting to know them and finding out their stories. Even though I am only here for a few days a week I have learnt so much.”