Befrienders help eye operation patients

June 10^th, 2002

What better way to help take the stress and anxiety out of having an operation than to have a friend sit with you?

That's the feeling behind an innovative approach to day case eye surgery at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

The volunteer befrienders scheme enables patients who are having treatments such as cataract operations to literally have their hand held as the ophthalmic surgeon goes about his work.

As well as knowing that there is a reassuring friend in the operating theatre with them, patients are able to communicate with the theatre staff, if they feel the need, by squeezing the hand of their friend who will report that the person has a concern. The theatre nurse will then be able to make inquiries about the patient's wellbeing.

“It is lovely to have a human touch during an anxious time and holding someone’s hand can have a very calming effect during cataract surgery,” says theatre sister Rachel Andrews who is pioneering the scheme along with consultant ophthalmologist Andrew Ramsay. “There is also evidence that hand holding during local anaesthetic cataract surgery can reduce the patient’s perception of pain.”

The befrienders meet and chat with patients before their operation and stay with them until it is all over and they have had a cup of tea.

“There is good evidence that certain eastern hand massage techniques reduce people’s anxiety and we often see a lowering of the pulse rate when a patient has their hand held in theatre. Post operatively patients are always very grateful,” says Rachel.

Finding suitable volunteers is the job of the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust Voluntary Services Manager Geraldine Debenham. Potential befrienders are carefully screened and spend time with the theatre staff before being taken on.

“It is very important that we find the right people,” said Geraldine. “People who would feel comfortable in a theatre environment and it’s important too that the volunteer handholders feel part of the theatre staff team.”

“Our first volunteers have been excellent, but we need more if every patient is to benefit from this approach.”

Viorica Long is a Volunteer Befriender and she says “Its brilliant, I really enjoy what I do and it’s a pleasure to be involved in this way. The patients are so appreciative and I feel I'm really helping."

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a befriender can contact Geraldine Debenham on 01284 713 206.