A former stroke ward worker has been giving talks to about the warning signs of strokes in the hope it could save somebody's life.
Raj Nair from Heaton, now a teacher, has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by stroke survivors and those that care for them and is now volunteering with Healthwatch Newcastle. He has also been working with organisations such as the Stroke Association.
Raj has spoken about his passion for healthcare, and why this spurred him on to become a Healthwatch Newcastle volunteer.
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“My strong passion lies in healthcare and enhancing the wellbeing of people and by becoming a Healthwatch Newcastle volunteer, I’ve been able to reach so many people and help them through my experiences.
"I enjoy delivering presentations to various community groups, specifically on stroke awareness and hope I’ve made a positive impact in someone's life by sharing my knowledge. Perhaps one day, my advice may even save a life", he said.
Volunteer Coordinator for Healthwatch Newcastle, Lesley Tweddell has also spoken about the role that Raj and other volunteers have in the work that they do.
“Volunteers like Raj have a crucial part to play in enabling individuals to express their views on health and social care. By volunteering with Healthwatch, people can enhance their abilities, gain practical knowledge, and contribute to their local community. A lot of our volunteers help us to carry out surveys or attend some informational events.”
Yvonne Probert, CEO of Tell Us North CIC, the organisation tasked with delivering the Healthwatch Newcastle service, expressed her thanks to volunteers like Raj, who contribute by sharing knowledge or actively listening to the concerns of people about the health and social care they receive.
“Volunteers such as Raj provide significant support to Healthwatch activities in various capacities, and their efforts play a vital role in the work that we do. I’d ask anyone who feels that they have something to offer to contact us for an informal chat.”
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