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OAP Ann’s 20-year hospital volunteering ‘bug’ results in her scooping civic gong
Teesside pensioner Ann McCabe says seeing hospital patients happy makes her day.
The Billingham 79-year-old is a volunteer with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and was overwhelmed to be announced the winner of Mayor’s Civic Award from Stockton Council.
While Ann collected the individual award for Service to the Community, the trust’s volunteer driver service scooped the Group Award.
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The awards recognise those who have ‘achieved something particularly noteworthy within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees or enhanced the reputation of the borough on a national scale’. The annual awards honour local people and organisations or businesses that have made a real difference to the community.
Ann, who won for her unwavering dedication and commitment to supporting inpatients at the University Hospital of North Tees, said: “I’m completely overwhelmed with this award. Volunteering gives me a reason to get up in the morning, I love talking to patients and getting to know them.
“If I can make a patient happy, then my day is made. Every day volunteering is a good day.”
Ann’s commitment to supporting the trust began over 20 years ago. She vowed to begin a fundraising crusade by organising jumble sales to raise money for ward 24 as thanks for the care her husband received. Raising over £13,000 for the ward, Ann was quoted then saying: “It won’t end. I’ve got the bug, I can’t stop”.
And she didn’t – in the past four years, Ann has dedicated every weekday morning to the patients at the hospital. She spends her time chatting to patients, supporting with activities on the ward and making runs to the kitchen to bring treats for the patients.
The trust’s volunteer drivers were also thrilled with their award. Robbie Earl, Mike Rawson and Richard Siddell are just three of 25 volunteer drivers at the organisation. They represented the team at the awards ceremony.
Fellow volunteer driver, 74-year-old Alan Farley, said: “I had my two sons at North Tees and both me and my family have been treated here. It’s nice to give back and be recognised for the work that we do. I’m privileged to meet so many interesting people in this role. You get to know them, to build up a rapport and make a difference to their lives.”
The volunteer driver service was introduced 10 years ago to help patients get to their appointments at both the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool. Since then, the team has grown and taken on extra duties, including driving patients home after hospital stays – making more beds available for patients – and delivering essential medication and equipment to patients’ at home.
Volunteer coordinator Paul Wharton said: “We are thrilled that our volunteers are getting the recognition they so richly deserve. These awards demonstrate the value of the support they give to our communities on a daily basis, helping and supporting the most vulnerable and in need.
“They and their families should be very proud of their contribution. As a trust, we can’t thank them enough – well done from all at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.”
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