Volunteers pledge 'nobody should die alone'

In a ward at University Hospital Southampton, volunteer Norman Bainbridge says he is "trying to provide a bit of kindness", as he spends time with Colin - a patient being cared for in his final days.

Colin's family cannot be with him around the clock but Norman and the other members of the Butterfly Friends group make regular visits, ensuring he always has company.

The group is looking for more members, to ensure that nobody ever dies alone in the hospital.

Norman said: "It's a little comfort, its a small thing really. Because otherwise they could die, possibly on their own and that to me is just not right".

In hospitals across the country some patients sadly die without family or friends.

Some have no one to be with them in their last moments, while others have loved ones who live far away.

On another ward Michael Bainger and Diane Parmee visit a patient called Isabel.

Like so many patients her family cannot be by her side as much as they would like.

Diane said: "it's a real privileged to come and see Isabel, I've seen her a few times before and she opened her eyes today and it was really lovely."

This team of 11 Butterfly Friends has completed over 160 visiting hours at UHS – but demand is great and they say they need many more volunteers to join them.

Norman was with his own wife and his daughter in their last moments and wants to help others.

"I get a great deal of satisfaction from the role of trying to provide a bit of kindness, a bit of care and a bit of hand holding," he said.

Alison Ross, head of patient experience UHS said: "Unfortunately we do see a lot of patients die here in hospital as much as we would like to get them out to where they would like to be.

"That is exactly why we are looking to grow our volunteer group to make sure we can continue to fulfill that goal that nobody ever dies alone."

Both Colin and Isabel have since passed away - their families were happy for them to be included in this article.

They did not die alone.

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