""Hello, how are you doing? Good to see you," says Honor Cousens, as she pushes a trolley loaded with cold drinks, sweets, biscuits, toiletries, newspapers and magazines. The volunteer at the Royal London Hospital is a familiar face on the wards, and has been supporting staff and patients for many years. She is part of the Friends of the Royal London Hospital, a charity that has been running at the Whitechapel site since 1979."
"Part of her volunteer role is to provide a listening service to anyone with concerns about their medical condition, or those who simply want to talk to a friendly face. "I've been through what a lot of patients have had to go through," says Honor. Last year she became a patient at the hospital, after she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer."
""I can help them by saying, 'Well have you given yourself a little treat today?'" Honor says staff and patients alike benefit from the trolley service, and the chatter that comes with it. "It's just absolutely amazing, the amount of people from all walks of life. It's very invigorating," she says. "You might meet somebody and you'll never see them again. But you've learnt so much and hopefully you've been able to cheer them up."
Honor Cousens pushes a trolley stocked with cold drinks, sweets, biscuits, toiletries, newspapers and magazines along the Royal London Hospital's 26 miles of corridors. She volunteers with the Friends of the Royal London Hospital and has supported staff and patients for many years, earning a British Empire Medal. Her role delivers treats to patients who cannot leave their beds and to staff working long shifts, and includes a listening service for those with medical concerns or who want company. A recent diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer gives her added empathy and perspective, which she uses to encourage small comforts and brighten days for people from diverse backgrounds.
Read at www.bbc.com
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