Volunteer coaching in the NHS 1: Setting up the service

Welcome to our three-part series on developing an NHS volunteer coaching service for cancer patients and their families. The episodes are hosted by Dr Andrew Parsons, and presented by the EMCC UK health and wellbeing special interest group.

The Fountain Centre is an independent cancer charity, based in St Luke’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey Hospital, providing information and holistic support for people impacted by cancer. In 2014, volunteer medical coaches started to bring their expertise to patients and family members, and following positive feedback, the Fountain Centre team began to develop an integrated coaching service at the centre.

In this first episode, Anne Pike, Head of the Fountain Centre, and Charlotte McDowell, its founder, outline the opportunities and challenges involved in setting up the service.

The discussion is facilitated by Dr Andrew A Parsons, a certified wellness practitioner, EMCC Master Accredited coach/mentor, and EMCC UK health and wellbeing special interest group co-lead. He was also one of the founding medical coaches who developed the Fountain Centre service.