FINDING THEIR WAY: Orange City Council is sending a request to Orange hospital asking for a Wayfinders volunteer to be stationed at the rear of the hospital. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0307sgwayfinders2
A REQUEST is being sent to Orange Health Service general manager Catherine Nowlan asking for a Wayfinder volunteer to be situated at the back entrance to the hospital to help patients and visitors find their way around.
The Orange City Council request follows a recommendation from its access committee that, due to the large number of people accessing the hospital from the rear car park, patients and visitors needed help to find their way around the large facility.
The Wayfinders are volunteers who guide visitors and patients around the hospital.
The system was supported by Orange City Council after councillor Chris Gryllis visited a busy Sydney hospital to see how the volunteer guide system worked there, in the lead-up to the opening of Orange hospital in March, 2011.
Cr Gryllis believes the majority of a patients and visitor traffic comes through the front of the hospital.
Clinics are situated at the hospital’s front entrance, however the expanding cancer clinic and education centre are located at the back door.
“Since the hospital opened 50,000 visitors have come through the hospital and 90 per cent of them come through the front door,” Cr Gryllis said.
However, the councillor, who is also a Wayfinders volunteer said he would bring up the issue at the next Wayfinders meeting.
Under current arrangements the Wayfinders are based in a specially designated section near the front door.
“But when we do have an influx of people we try to send a Wayfinder to the back door,” Cr Gryllis said.
Ms Nowlan said the hospitalwould consider the letter from council, in consultation with the Wayfinders, when it arrived.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
