HELP Benidorm volunteers receive official accreditation

The British Consul, hospital staff and local councillors today attended an event in Villajoyosa hospital where the HELP Benidorm hospital visitors were handed their official accreditation badges.

A group of about 20 volunteers from HELP Benidorm have been carrying out hospital visits for the last 9 months, visiting vulnerable patients twice a week, under the supervision of the hospital social work coordinator, Silvia.

The agreement was finally signed in November and now the hospital visiting programme is officially recognised by the Valencian Regional Government.

The director of the hospital opened the event thanking the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. This was followed by words of thanks from Silvia and the British Consul, Paul Rodwell.

Mr Rodwell said ‘This programme is an excellent example of integration and the benefits of Brits working closely with the local Spanish community.

We are extremely grateful to the hard work that the volunteers carry out, which is a support to the Consulate and to English speakers who find themselves in this hospital’.

Silvia, the social worker, added: ‘Today is about giving the volunteers the recognition they deserve. Now they are fully accredited they can feel part of the hospital team.

The assistance they provide supporting and visiting English speaking patients in this hospital is a great help to us and today, from the whole hospital, we want to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and dedication’ Jan, the president of HELP Benidorm who attended along with the 20 other volunteers who have officially been given accreditation by the Valencian Regional Government health authorities also thanked the hospital and volunteers, especially Christine Lane, the volunteer coordinator, who was not able to attend.

She said ‘This volunteer programme has been really worthwhile and from the positive feedback we have received I can see that this service was really needed.’

More information about HELP Benidorm and how to get involved can be found on their website, help-benidorm.com and information about living in Spain and help for British nationals can be found on the British Consulate website ukinspain.fco.gov.uk