A SCHEME which sees volunteers stay with patients who are passing away in hospital is looking for more people to get involved.

The No One Dies Alone Programme (NODA) run by Compassionate Inverclyde sees volunteers trained to sit with the patients and keep them company when loved ones are not able to be there.

During the shifts companions can talk to the patients, hold their hand or simply serve as a caring presence in the room.

Inverclyde Royal is the first hospital in Scotland to offer this service and Compassionate Inverclyde already have 53 trained companions.

More training is planned for a further 17 volunteers but an appeal is now being made for more men to come forward as only two of the current volunteers are male.

Alison Bunce, who set up Compassionate Inverclyde, said: “I have been blown away by the response from people, I have 53 trained volunteers and more people have expressed an interest.

"However, with people on holiday and not always available we are always looking for more volunteers.

“I have amazing companions, they are people who really believe in helping and were keen to get involved.

“Men are not great at putting themselves forward and male patients are often more comfortable with other men so I am looking to try and get some more men trained up.

“We just need people with a good heart who care and would be able to sit with someone in their final hours.

“It’s ordinary people helping ordinary people and everyone in the community has a part to play.”

One family member spoke of how they were supported by the service.

They said: “My father sadly passed away after a long stay in IRH and during his last few days he and the family were supported by NODA volunteers.

“My brother and I would like to express our gratitude for the help and comfort we were all given during this time.

“The volunteer companions were understanding and supportive and totally non-judgemental about the amount of time the family were able to spend with my father, allowing us to also spend time at home looking after our mother.”

Organiser Alison hosts an event every month for the companions to meet and chat and anyone interested in joining the team or finding out more is asked to contact her on 07540766381.