HOSPITAL VISITORS PROGRAMME

The Hospital Visitors scheme was first established in January 1998 to provide a service to new amputees and their families. All of the Murray Foundation Hospital Visitors are themselves amputees who have undergone 4 days counselling skills training and also 2 days additional training in the rehabilitation process. The Hospitals Visitors are monitored individually on a monthly basis and also meet every three months for counselling supervision and every 6 months for review. In addition, they are closely governed by their own Code of Ethics and Practice with the Foundation making a firm commitment to on-going training and supervision.

The Hospital Visitors are not "experts" ready to solve problems, they are people with an amputation who have themselves and their experience to share and do so in a confidential, one-to-one manner.

The Foundation now has a register of over 30 Hospital Visitors who, although they are based mainly in central Scotland, are happy to travel to any location to help and support new amputees. We hope to increase the number of visitors further north, nearer to Inverness and Aberdeen, who will obviously be more familiar with local contacts and support agencies in that area.

Every ward sister, physiotherapist or occupational therapist who deals with amputees should have a register of all Hospital Visitors and can arrange a visit. The local limb centres also hold copies of the register as there may be more established amputees who still feel they would benefit from some time with one of our visitors.

A number of our visitors have now completed their Certificate in Counselling which has provided invaluable in increasing their self awareness, communication with others and provided a capacity to empower. Some have taken their training even further and have enrolled for the Diploma in Counselling which will allow them to begin working toward accreditation with employment opportunities in many different areas.

If you are interested in becoming a Murray Foundation Hospital Visitor please contact us on info@murray-foundation.org.uk or call us on 0141 580 8564.