“Over time I became more confident”

At the start she would shy away from ward duties and tended to help in the kitchen. ​“I was nervous about talking to older patients,” Janaki recalls. ​“But over time I became more confident as I realised that patients with dementia could be anxious or upset and I could help them.”

She remembers a particular patient who had dementia. ​“They revealed to me that they felt confused and they were struggling to remember things. I realised that just being with them and talking to them was comforting and helped to make them feel safe. At the end of the conversation, they told me they felt lighter.”

Volunteering has really helped Janaki to understand more about communicating with patients. ​“I learned how important it is to develop a good bedside manner and to adapt how you talk and interact with individuals depending on their needs,” she explains.

Janaki has been studying for a degree in biomedical sciences at King’s College London and plans to take up medicine at Keele University. She has continued to volunteer alongside her studies to boost her professional development. ​“Learning about neurological conditions, I’ve already got some experience that I can relate to,” she adds. ​“It’s the combination of the medical learning and the more social human side.”

Her time at the Royal Free Hospital has also given Janaki the confidence to know when to involve other people in the ward team. ​“If I have concerns about a patient, I feel confident in raising that,” she says. ​“It’s important to realise what you can do and where you need to ask others to get involved.”

Like Janaki, if you are planning a career in the health sector or would like to give your time while gaining invaluable hospital experience, why not apply for our young volunteers’ programme. It’s an opportunity to volunteer across various roles at our hospitals from Monday to Friday.