James Watt College - Ardgowan Hospice Greenock
Ardgowan Hospice, based in Greenock, Inverclyde, enhances the lives of local people affected by cancer and other serious life limiting illnesses. The Hospice cares for more than 500 individuals each year. All services are free of charge.
The opportunity was given to all SVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapists, SPA Therapists, Nail Technicians and HNC students to become volunteers at Ardgowan Hospice and offer patients the treatments they were learning at college. The college and the hospice delivered a two-day training course to all students focusing on what cancer is, what treatments are available, the psychological impact on the patient of being diagnosed with cancer and various coping strategies. During the training an emphasis was placed on communication skills and professional practice regarding confidentiality when delivering beauty therapies within a healthcare environment. A visit to the in-patient unit and the Access Centre at the hospice helped alleviate any apprehensions the students may have had
Six students from the 2010-11 session volunteered for the project and undertook further training to learn how to adapt their treatments for people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses. Supervised facials, make up and nail treatments were then provided to ten patients per weekly session over a six week period.
Volunteer Colette Boyd said “I had previously worked in a care home and when the opportunity came up to participate in the hospice work I was really excited. I really enjoyed the work, it was different from the college as I had to adapt the treatments to suit each patient. I think the treatments helped build self-esteem and the patients opened up to me because I was non-medical. I want to do more when I finish my course.”
Volunteer Stephanie Mullin said “I have been a volunteer in the Guides and Brownies for several years and really enjoy it, so volunteering for the hospice felt right. I treated patients at the hospice the same as college clients as normality is really important to them. I learned about Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy and how it changes the skin and nail colour. I also learned about Hickman lines and lymphedema. The hospice work really improved my confidence and because of this I am going to do more volunteering in future. I am now part of the Look Good Feel Better service at the Maggie Center in Glasgow and will volunteer four times a year for this. I wish more people had an insight into volunteering and about how much you get from giving to others.”