Volunteers who have dedicated a combined total of 1,100 years’ service to Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been presented with long service awards.

The 85 volunteers who work at King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton; Mansfield Community Hospital; and Newark Hospital were presented with awards for service ranging from five to 40 years at two ceremonies ­— one at the Oakham Suite, Mansfield, and the other at Newark Town Hall Ballroom.

The trust said its volunteers — who work in areas like the Daffodil Cafe and the Tea Bar, on ward trolleys, as storekeepers, wayfinding, assisting housekeepers and for Milldside Radio, among other areas — made a huge difference in enriching the patient and visitor experience across the hospitals.

They also provide invaluable support to staff, enabling them to deliver a range of high-quality patient services.

Polly Mann, who works in the tea bar at Mansfield Community Hospital, received a 35-year award.
She started volunteering in the Dukeries tea bar and continued there until it closed in 2010.

Also presented with the 35-year award was Doreen Gunning, who helps with patient experience surveys.

She started volunteering at the former Mansfield General Hospital, delivering and arranging flowers in the wards and patient areas.

She later moved to the outpatients department at King’s Mill and joined the King’s Treatment Centre team.

Awards for 25 years of volunteering went to Jeffrey Welch, who now drives a buggy to help patients and visitors; and Maureen Wilkinson, who now volunteers in outpatient clinics. She is a former employee at King’s Mill, who returned after retirement to help out.

The chair of the health trust, John MacDonald, said: “My congratulations and sincere thanks to all who have received their special awards.

“It is a privilege for me to be able to extend the thanks of the trust Board, the council of governors and our staff to these exceptional volunteers.”

Pictured are the three longest-serving volunteers from King’s Mill Hospital and Mansfield Community Hospital — Doreen Gunning (35 years), Jeffrey Welch (25 years) and Polly Mann (35 years).