There is a marvellous volunteer department at UCL which carries out
many of the activities which make life a little more bearable for many on
the wards (and in waiting rooms). They are run mainly by older people who
provide opportunities for the sort of interaction other workers do not
experience. It would benefit all, professors as well as trainees, if they
could do a stint on wards working as volunteers to gain or regain a
relationship with people without the barriers of the practitioner-patient
relationship. Volunteers can choose which area they wish to work in as not
all are suited to face to face interaction with people on wards, it takes
a certain sensitivity to approach strangers who will not always wish
contact anyway - just as all trainees will not eventually choose to work
closely with people or find interaction easy - it could be one way of
finding out though.
Rapid Response:
Re: If there was a will, there could be a way
There is a marvellous volunteer department at UCL which carries out
many of the activities which make life a little more bearable for many on
the wards (and in waiting rooms). They are run mainly by older people who
provide opportunities for the sort of interaction other workers do not
experience. It would benefit all, professors as well as trainees, if they
could do a stint on wards working as volunteers to gain or regain a
relationship with people without the barriers of the practitioner-patient
relationship. Volunteers can choose which area they wish to work in as not
all are suited to face to face interaction with people on wards, it takes
a certain sensitivity to approach strangers who will not always wish
contact anyway - just as all trainees will not eventually choose to work
closely with people or find interaction easy - it could be one way of
finding out though.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests