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Photograph of volunteer Jatin Shah

Watch: I helped myself by helping others, says hospital volunteer

A hospital volunteer who has spent most of his life in a wheelchair says helping others has helped him to come to terms with his own condition.

Jatin Shah was forced into a wheelchair in his teens but quickly put his own problems to one side preferring to focus on what he could rather than couldn’t do.

He has spent the past 19 years working as a volunteer at Northwick Park Hospital and is a familiar face on the reception desk as well as working as a ‘buddy’ visiting patients who have no visitors.

Jatin, 56, said: “I get so much out of volunteering and go home feeling I’ve made a difference each day. We’re one big family here and I’d recommend volunteering to anyone.”

Jatin originally decided to volunteer after looking after his late grandmother who was admitted to hospital with dementia.

“My family did a lot of charitable work In Africa where I grew up and I guess that planted the seed of volunteering. However, seeing how disorientated and frightened my grandmother was made me realise the difference volunteers can make.

“Just having someone to talk to can make a big difference, especially when if you have no-one to visit you in hospital.”

Jatin is one of more than 500 volunteers who work across the trust.

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