‘It’s all about the people’: Volunteer Brian’s 18 year hospital bedside vigil

NewsCommunity

25 May

**Lifelong volunteer Brian Day OAM has donated countless hours over 18 years by the bedside of people suffering chronic illness at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital.**

Brian Day OAM has spent most of his life volunteering. Either as a gay activist, in public health, and now with palliative care patients at Maleny Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

“My partner made enough money for me to be a volunteer, and we decided that’s what I should do,” Mr Day said. “I had experience in palliative care.”

Driven by a deep commitment to public health Brian has spent countless hours by the bedside of people suffering chronic illness. He has volunteered at Maleny hospital for 18 years.

“I have a passion for public health, I was raised to. We were raised to respect public health, and also that you have to contribute in life.”

Mr Day said the Maleny hospital’s approach to palliative care was holistic, unique, and very valuable.

“They let you come and go, and partners virtually live here with their loved ones for a time if they need to,” he said. “There’s a whole community of involvement in death which for me is very, very healthy. Quite often it’s really clinical, but here it’s all about the people. It’s really focused on the person and their needs.

“Good palliative care is applied at the time of diagnosis – and they might get better – and then there’s end of life care, and they are quite different. They do it well here.”

Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service celebrated National Volunteer Week (17-23 May, 2021) a time to thank people like Brian who give so much time and energy to the health and care of others.

SCHHS spokesperson Michelle Acworth said many volunteers like Brian had their own stories that motivated them to serve their communities so admirably.

“Some are previous patients or had loved ones cared for at the facility,” she said. “They say they want to be a part of the team that had such a positive impact on the care their loved one received.

“Many radiation patients like to celebrate the end of their treatment by wanting to volunteer in that area.

“The radiation role provides a unique opportunity for the volunteer to build a special bond with the patient throughout the treatment.”