We’ve all heard the common refrain “going the extra mile”, but how about 9,922 miles?
That’s equivalent to travelling as the crow flies from Glasgow to just north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia – and it’s the incredible distance that volunteer welcome guides at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital walk every year during their time helping others.
The remarkable figure was calculated by Brian Robertson, Volunteer Manager at the QEUH, who has watched in awe at the effort put in by volunteers during their shifts.
They generously give up their time to support patients, visitors and staff, working in a range of roles – from welcoming people as they arrive to helping them find their way and offering reassurance when it’s needed most.
Brian said: “One day I was watching the welcome guides at the QEUH as they came and went, helping all those people, and I thought – they must walk halfway round the world.
“And when I checked, that’s more or less what they do.”
Individually, welcome guides walk an average of four miles per three-and-a-half-hour shift, adding up to around 40 miles each day across the three shifts as they move around the hospital supporting those who need it.
That effort quickly builds. Across a week, volunteers walk more than 200 miles, rising to nearly 830 miles each month – the equivalent of travelling from Glasgow to London and back.
And that’s just at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – welcome guides are an important first point of contact for thousands of people who come to hospitals across NHSGGC every day.
But it’s not just about distance. Each step reflects the hundreds of interactions taking place every day. On average, each welcome guide helps 52 people per shift, with teams supporting nearly 200 individuals and daily totals reaching more than 570 interactions.
Across a week, at the QEUH that means almost 3,000 people receive help and reassurance, rising to more than 12,000 each month. Over the course of a year, volunteers support around 148,000 people – the equivalent of assisting the entire population of Dundee.
For volunteers like David Henry, who has been part of the QEUH team for more than 10 years, those interactions are what make the role so worthwhile. During a typical morning shift, he can walk more than 12,000 steps.
“It’s the best exercise going,” he said. “We help people get to their appointments, visitors to find the way to where their loved ones are being cared for, and sometimes just lend a listening ear.
“People are often worried and stressed when they arrive at the hospital, and we are a beacon of help and reassurance.”
That sense of connection is shared by Tina Ferguson, who volunteers alongside David and has also given a decade of service.
“We are here to give people help, and time,” she said. “We don’t ask for anything in return, but we do get paid quite well in bars of chocolate and hugs.”
Brian Robertson added: “Our welcome guides go above and beyond in every sense. The distances they walk are incredible, but what really stands out is the care and compassion they show every day.
“They make a genuine difference to people’s experiences, helping them feel supported from the moment they arrive.”
As NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde marks Volunteers’ Week, the dedication of its welcome guides is a reminder of the quiet but powerful impact volunteers have across its services.
Fiona Smith, Strategic Lead for Volunteering at NHSGGC, said: “Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our teams, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do.
“They give their time so generously, supporting patients, visitors and staff in ways that are both practical and deeply human. On behalf of everyone at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, I would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer and making a difference is encouraged to find out more and explore current opportunities on the NHSGGC website.
To find out more about volunteering with NHSGGC, go to Volunteering with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – NHSGGC
