If you’ve been to one of our hospitals recently, you’ll know about our amazing team of volunteers, who give up their time to help patients and visitors in a whole host of ways.
They’re all pretty special but today, we want to introduce you to David Spark – who’s spent over 20 years dedicating his spare time to helping others at Grimsby Hospital.
David started volunteering with us in the former RVS café, which used to be housed in our Family Services unit.
However, when the café closed, David was determined to stay on and help in other ways – and now spends three mornings a week helping our Estates team.
He said: “I love it. When I was at the RVS café I didn’t want to leave the hospital because I was settled in, I made friends. The doctors and nurses speak to me, and all the patients come and speak to me. It feels like a family.
“I do litter picking all round the car parks and main entrance, the road to the traffic lights – I go up as far as there and if there’s any litter, I pick it up from there.
“I can see the difference. At first, when I was asked to do it, I said the litter doesn’t help. It gives the hospital a bad name and I don’t want that. So, that’s why I picked this job.
“It gets my back up, with all the cigarettes, when they just throw them on the floor. It’s uncalled for. Sometimes they throw them in front of me when I’m working. It’s not fair.”
And it’s not just the hospital grounds David looks after – he also likes to keep an eye out for any trouble too.
He added: “I get on well with Security. When I go around the car park, if I think there’s any problems – if there’s anybody suspicious around the cars, I go straight to Security.
“I would recommend volunteering. I like everything about it. I love being part of the team.
“On my rounds, if I’m passing, people ask us ‘can you tell us where such-and-such is’, and I’ll direct them.”
Senior Estates Manager for Grimsby, Keith Leech, said: “David is a lovely chap – a truly genuine guy – and a fantastic addition to our team.
“It’s wonderful to meet someone who cares so much about helping others and looking after our hospital grounds, that he’s willing to give up his own time to come and help. We’re really lucky to have him.”
