Volunteers in the Emergency Department
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can hospital volunteers contribute in improving patient experience and care within the Emergency Department?
IRAS ID
241680
Contact name
Peter Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 30 days
Research summary
Emergency Departments in the United Kingdom continue to face increasing demands and economic pressures (Care Quality Commission 2016, NHS England 2017). These pressures along with shortages of specialist staff in emergency departments and lack of physical capacity can lead to substandard care. Aspects of fundamental care such as emotional support and ensuring that nutritional needs are met have, in some instances, been reported by patients to be poor in emergency departments (Care Quality Commission 2017). It is important that these issues be addressed and patient care improved.
This study will investigate whether a hospital volunteer scheme could enhance patient care in the Oxford University Hospital’s Emergency Department through assisting with the psychological aspect of patient care and helping with patients’ nutritional needs. This could give nursing and medical staff additional time to focus on clinical tasks ensuring that all patient needs are met.
Data will be collected by research nurses via a survey in the form of questionnaires for both patients and staff as part of a non-randomised comparative study. Patient surveys will be given out and data collected at times when volunteers are in the department. The aim will be to collect comparative data, when volunteers are not in the department, to as similar as possible day and time points as the volunteer data collection. Staff questionnaires will be sent via email to all nursing staff in the form of an online survey.
Data from patients and staff will be collected throughout the month of November 2018.
All participating respondents will be required to give written and informed consent. All patients and staff will be informed of the purpose of the questionnaire and assured of confidentiality and that all data collected is anonymised.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0651
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion