More than a cuppa: Volunteers serving tea and compassion at Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s ED

Some volunteers of the Friends of the Emergency Department in Hastings: Leanne Collins (left), Rosemary Meads, Jill Frizzell, Raewyn Knott, Chrissy Flowers, Sandra Thorne and Jacqueline Baty.

When Chrissy Flowers first walked through the doors of Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s emergency department as a volunteer, she didn’t know the difference a chat over tea could make.

Ten years later, she still shows up every Wednesday with a “genuine love for people” and the kind of warmth that can turn a hospital visit into something special for those in need and for herself as well.

“As soon as I get there, my whole world changes,” Flowers told Hawke’s Bay Today.

At 78, Flowers is one of just eight remaining volunteers with Friends of the Emergency Department (FED), a St John programme that offers comfort and companionship to patients in ED.

The Hawke’s Bay group once had 25 members — enough for two volunteers per shift.

Today, they’re down to one per shift and in desperate need of recruits.

The job itself is simple, but deeply meaningful, Flowers says.

Volunteers help nurses with simple tasks, making beds, assisting with name wristbands, handing out sandwiches and cups of tea. Most importantly, they sit and listen.

“Especially the elderly, who need support. We can hold their hand and chat about the old days when they were younger, and they tend to forget about the problem that they’re in there for,” Flowers says.

It was her own health scare that brought her to St John in the first place.

After needing emergency care and a flight to Wellington for a pacemaker, Flowers wanted to do something in return.

“They were so good to me ... I said to my husband, I wanted to do something just to give back.”

So, she turned up at the St John office in Hastings and never looked back.

“The lady in the office said, ‘You’re the perfect person for what I want’, because I’ve got quite an outgoing personality and I love people.”

As national volunteer week is marked across the country, Flowers hopes more people will consider putting their hands up.

“It’s the most rewarding thing. It truly is,” she says.

FED volunteers commit to four hours a week or fortnight, with rosters set in advance. No qualifications are needed, and full training is provided.

To learn more about becoming a Friend of the Emergency Department, visit stjohn.org.nz or email the Hospital Volunteer team at hospitalvolunteers@stjohn.org.nz.