The scale and innovation of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital's (NNUH) volunteering programme has been praised by the founder of Helpforce.

Eastern Daily Press: Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett met with volunteers, managers and some of the NNUH executive team. Photo: NNUHSir Tom Hughes-Hallett met with volunteers, managers and some of the NNUH executive team. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)

Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett met with volunteers, managers and some of the hospital's executive team on Friday to find out more about the many ways volunteers help staff and patients across the Trust.

Sir Tom, who is chair of the national organisation that promotes volunteering in hospitals, found out more about the trust's settle in service where volunteers help patients settle back in at home after a stay in hospital.

There are more than 700 volunteers at NNUH and there are dozens of volunteering roles across the trust.

Sir Tom praised 'inspirational' voluntary services manager Sally Dyson and the volunteer team at NNUH, which has an investing in volunteers accreditation.

He said: 'I was so impressed by the scale of volunteering, the innovation, and the impact on services.'

Sally added: 'NNUH has been recognised as an example of best practice for our volunteering programme and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to show Sir Tom what we do here. It is not hard to develop a good service when you are surrounded by such supportive and generous people.'

Helpforce is working with NHS trusts and the voluntary sector to improve volunteering practice and the national perception of volunteering in healthcare.

During his visit Sir Tom, who is also chair of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, met with chief nurse Nancy Fontaine, director of workforce Jeremy Over and some of NNUH's volunteers.