First Task Force on Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care (2017)

Volunteers play an important role in a civil society and in some countries in Europe have historically had a long involvement in hospice and palliative care, often initiating services. Many hospice and palliative care services depend on volunteers to enable them to deliver the range and quality of services that they provide. This includes both emotional and practical support to patients and families in hospices and in the community, in addition to valuable support for the wider organisation through administration, fundraising and awareness raising.  Volunteers have an important role to play and bring a unique quality to the care of patients and their families. However, volunteers, may not always be acknowledged as a part of the professional team, or their skills and expertise recognised (Davis-Smith (2004), Andersson and Ohlen (2005), Addington-Hall and Karlsen (2005), Barron (2008)). With a demand for hospice and palliative care steadily increasing, volunteers will have a significant role to play in the delivery of services in the future in ensuring truly holistic care.   
 

References 

• Addington-Hall, & J.M.,Karlsen,S.(2005b). A national survey of health professionals and volunteers working in voluntary hospices in the UK 2: Staff and volunteers’ experiences of working in hospices. Palliative Medicine 19 (1), 49-57. 
• Andersson, B. & Ohlen, J. (2005). Being a hospice volunteer. Palliative Medicine 19, 602-609. 
• Barron, A. (2008). Sharing Good Practice; The Management of Hospice Volunteering. Retrieved on August 21, 2011 from http://www.leighbarron.com 
  Davis-Smith, J. (2004). Volunteering in UK hospices: looking to the future, London: Help the Hospices 
• Morris S, Wilmot A, Hill M, Ockenden N and Payne S. (2012) A narrative literature review of the contribution of volunteers in end of life care services. Palliative Medicine (published on-line July 2012) DOI: 10.1177/0269216312453608 

Methods 

Information has been gathered for the different work streams using a range of methods and have included group discussions at Task Force meetings, consultation, presentations and discussion groups at two international symposia and submitted country information.  
 

Survey 

This project involved mixed methods for data collection. Numerical data was gathered to give an indication of the numbers of volunteers in each participating country and the numbers involved in direct care of patients. Qualitative data was also be collected to give an understanding of how volunteering is understood in addition to exploring areas such as management, training and challenges. 

Because of the geographic nature of the study, data was gathered by a self-administered online survey. National associations in each country were the main point of contact for statistical and other strategic information and the Task Force membership identified volunteer managers and volunteers in each country to respond to the other aspects of the study.