Stepping Hill Hospital volunteer Kath Bake is going the extra mile to make sure patients feel at home.

The treats she is organising for patients on the hospital’s short stay unit for older people include a refreshing non-alcoholic ‘mocktail’ tasting afternoon, hair styling, manicures and knitting sessions.

Kath, 63 from Bredbury, started volunteering on the unit this January as a way of giving thanks for the “fabulous care” hospital staff gave her aunt Mai. 

Kath, who also works part time work in an accounting job, has become a popular regular on the unit every Wednesday. Together with other volunteers and the hospital’s dementia matron she has helped decorate a corner of the ward in 1950s period style, with music from the era playing, which has a calming effect for those patients with the condition on the ward.

The short stay unit for older people cares for patients usually over 70 years old, and suffering from problems such as fractures from falls. Patients with dementia, care home residents, patients with mobility problems, those struggling to manage at home, and those who have been admitted to hospital repeatedly are among those using the unit, which has 22 beds and sees over 1000 patients a year.

Kath said, “The staff at stepping Hill Hospital are amazing, and because they were here for my aunt, I wanted to be there for them. I love helping out with the patients on the unit, it’s a joy to come up with new ideas each week to help put a smile on their face.”

Five other volunteers help out on the unit on other days. Kath is one of over 350 volunteers who generously offer their time at Stepping Hill Hospital. The volunteers support patients and staff in many ways, whether it’s helping out on the ward like Kath, greeting and guiding patients when they first visit the hospital, or serving in one of the hospital’s retail shops.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Stepping hill Hospital contact the volunteers office on 0161 419 5400.