Long-term QEII volunteer Kerry is an open book when it comes to sharing her reading recommendations for patients as part of her role at the on-site Red Cross Medical Loan Service.
The team’s beloved book trolley at the helm of volunteers like Kerry was known for touring wards and providing an escape for patients pre-COVID, but took a break during the pandemic, before returning to QEII just recently.
Volunteers will now visit patients in their rooms to provide books and magazines on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as a chat along the way.
Kerry said the service provides an opportunity to brighten someone’s day while in hospital.
“Some patients don’t get visitors, so they love to talk and are grateful to have something to look at – if they have a favourite author, we’ll try find them for the patient,” Kerry said.
“I love reading, it’s one of my favourite hobbies, so I’ll bring in books that I’ve been given, and it makes me happy to be able to recommend something to the patients I meet.”
Books are donated by both staff and patients as well as the volunteers, and the team are always happily accepting donations to their loan library.
If you’ve got some great reads you’d like to pass on to our patients, touch base with the Red Cross Medical Loan Service from Monday – Friday on-site at QEII.