Ruth is a retired nurse who's been volunteering at the vaccination centre is Southampton. She has worked previously as a Ward Sister in neurosurgery and then trained as a psychiatric nurse in dementia care and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. She has boundless energy and also volunteers with HANTSAR as their Grant Officer and runs a local choir, the Gospel Phonics.
Having volunteered as a 'COVID tester' for lorry drivers at the ports, Ruth re-registered as a nurse to be able to support the vaccine programme and started this new volunteer role in January. She has loved the professional side of volunteering but has also really enjoyed the social side of the role; reconnecting with many old colleagues who are either working alongside her in the vaccine centre, or receiving their vaccines.
"The best bits for me have been being back in the role of a nurse and valued as a person, people greet me by name. It can be intense but I feel confident in the role and love the fact I'm in a team of older and younger people".
A woman of many talents, Ruth recently won two prizes in a writing competition and used the prize to buy all the HANTSAR vaccination volunteers red fob watches, which you can see around the centre.