Voluntary work strengthens clinics: volunteers for Lower Austria patients

Voluntary work strengthens clinics: volunteers for Lower Austria patients

In Lower Austria, the Lower Austrian State Health Agency has launched a new volunteer project, which is due to start in clinics from January 2025. This innovative project aims to improve support for patients and relatives in hospitals. State Councilor Ludwig Schleritzko emphasized the important role of volunteers in society during the presentation in St. Pölten, because around 800,000 people in the country are already committed.

The project is supposed to beat a bridge between volunteers and clinic employees. Schleritzko said that the volunteers should help on the one hand to assist patients and their relatives in the hospitals and to relieve medical staff on the other. "In emotional moments, you can act as a contact person and help to make medical technical terms more understandable," said Schleritzko. The Lower Austrian State Health Agency started its own homepage to win volunteers. Interested parties can register at this link

volunteers as important support

In a first phase, the project is tested in the University Hospital Tulln and St. Pölten as well as in the State Clinic in Hollabrunn. Sabine Wagner-Simhandl, the senior medicine and special educator at the pediatric and adolescent department of the St. Pölten University Hospital, was also positive about the initiative. In their opinion, volunteering is a "win-win situation" for everyone involved. The volunteers are integrated into the team and can actively help to support young patients emotionally, especially if relatives cannot come often due to shift services or long arrival.

Alfred Zens, board member of the Lower Austrian State Health Agency, explained that the volunteers can take on useful activities during the patient's stay. This includes conducting conversations, accompanying investigations and creating a pleasant atmosphere in the waiting area. Zens emphasizes: "It is about being there for the patients and making their stay more pleasant". The volunteers are not only prepared for their tasks, but also receive a free further training offer and support for travel expenses.

The Kultur.Region.nö also expressed its interest and sees itself as a cooperation partner of the project. Martin Lammerhuber, Managing Director of Kultur.Region.Nö, announced that further information about volunteering will be provided at a volunteer fair on November 10. It remains to be seen how many volunteers will ultimately choose this valuable task. According to www.gutenag.news shows that in Lower Austria there is a relevant need for help exists to improve the patient experience in the clinics.