Mackay Hospital Foundation Volunteer Maddison Hunt was 12 months old when she was diagnosed with Epilepsy and Ataxic Cerebral Palsy, a type of cerebral palsy which affects a person’s balance, coordination and depth of perception.
Maddison, now 20 years old, has become a hospital volunteer working alongside the same people that once cared for her. She said her reason for volunteering was to give back to her local community.
As part of Patient Experience Week (27 April – 1 May) Maddison is sharing her story about what makes a patient experience positive and what drove her to give back to her community.
“Everyone has a role to play. Over the years, I’ve seen how everyone in the hospital works together to contribute to providing a positive experience for patients,” she said.
For Maddison her positive experiences have been shaped by good communication between her treating teams, her involvement in her own care and the staff’s ongoing positive reassurance for her family.
“Handover and discharge summaries are always detailed and practical and show a great deal of teamwork between departments.
“The staff have always been professional, caring and helpful in working with me to meet my needs and supporting my recovery journey; this has made me feel valued and cared for,” she said.
“Being a Hospital Volunteer and being able to give back and contribute to the experience other patients have at the Mackay Hospital is important to me”.
“I enjoy volunteering in the Foundation Gift Shop. I like being part of a team, talking with customers and helping them choose gifts. I also enjoy seeing all of the friendly staff every day, everyone is so kind.”
“I’d especially like to thank Di and Tracey from the Foundation. I’d like to thank them for their help and support. They have made me feel so welcome at the gift shop and they have helped me be able to give back to hospital patients.”
Patient Experience Week provides a focused time to celebrate accomplishments, re-energise efforts and honour the people who positively impact the patient experience every day.
