A COMPASSIONATE man from Widnes who greets hospital patients with a friendly smile has been named a volunteer of the year.

Derek Bradshaw received the top accolade at the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Volunteer Awards

Derek has been a volunteer at Whiston Hospital since 2015 meeting and greeting visitors in main reception for two days every week.

He was nominated for the award by staff who said: “Derek welcomes everyone who enters our hospital with a warm and friendly smile, nothing is too much trouble for him and he goes above and beyond to ensure everyone he meets is treated with kindness and respect. Patients and visitors can be apprehensive when they arrive but many of them have told us that Derek’s understanding approach and care has helped to ease their fear and anxiety.”

Derek said: “This is such a lovely surprise. I really enjoy volunteering at Whiston Hospital, helping people, chatting and doing whatever I can to make life a little brighter for everyone.

"Let’s be honest no-one wants to visit hospital so it’s very important to make everyone’s experience a good one.

"This is a fantastic team and I feel really lucky to be a part of it. I’m bowled over to be recognised for doing something I love.”

More than 450 people volunteer at Whiston and St Helens hospitals and undertake a variety of roles including meeting and greeting, visiting patients, sitting and talking with them and acting as dining companions.

The trust also has a number of volunteers who are involved in their delirium prevention project and have also placed volunteers in their emergency department and on the stroke rehabilitation ward.

Chief executive Ann Marr said: “I am delighted that Derek has been recognised as our volunteer of the year. The respect and compassion he shows to everyone he meets is exemplary and like all our volunteers he is an integral part of our organisation.

"The feedback I receive about our volunteer workforce is always incredibly positive and it’s incredibly important that we acknowledge and recognise their valuable contribution with our annual volunteer awards.”

Anyone wishing to become a volunteer can contact the trust's voluntary services department on 0151 430 1874.