News

New Concierge service at MBH

Thu, 01 Feb 2018 09:58:00

A new “concierge” service is greeting visitors to Mildura Base Hospital.

An enthusiastic team of trained volunteers is on board to staff the concierge desk, inside the main hospital entrance, between 8.30 and 4.30 each weekday.
The idea for a duty concierge to meet and assist hospital visitors came from the Mildura Base Hospital Community Advisory Board and was implemented with funds raised by the Mildura Harness Racing Club at its Pacing Cup Carnival in April.
MBH front office supervisor and volunteer coordinator Faye Matulick said concierge desk volunteers would be a welcoming face and a helpful resource for hospital visitors.
“People who aren’t regular visitors to the hospital often find it difficult to get their bearings and know where to go, especially if they’re upset or distressed when they get here,” Ms Matulick said.
“Our voluntary concierges are extremely familiar with the hospital layout and procedures and they’ll be able to direct people to wherever they need to go, or even escort them, if need-be,” she said.
MBH Community Advisory Board chair Gayle Danson said the idea had come from seeing similar services at larger hospitals.
“Our reception staff are fantastic, but they are very busy a lot of the time, and the concierges will be able to be a smiling face and concentrate on helping people who come through the door,” Ms Danson said.
“The volunteers will greet people, but they’ll also be able to keep an eye out for anyone who appears a bit lost or uncertain,” she said.
Ms Matulick said she was pleased with a strong community response to a call for volunteers to staff operate the concierge desk.
“We have enough volunteers on board to comfortably staff the service, but we are always on the lookout for more people who are willing to assist,” she said.
“The concierge service is just one area of the hospital where volunteers help out.  We have others who do the newspaper trolley, some visit patients who are in for long periods and others give a helping hand to day services, midwifery and at the headspace youth service.
“Our volunteers are a great group of community-minded people who help us provide the little extras that can make such a difficult time a little easier for people coming in contact with the hospital.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at MBH can contact Faye at MBH reception on 5022 3333.