Do you have four hours a week to spare and want to make a difference to staff and patients at Whakatāne Hospital’s Emergency Department?

With a few gaps in its roster, the hospital’s FEDS (Friends of the Emergency Department) is looking for new volunteers.

The FEDS programme originated in 2002 with Hato Hone St John starting teams in many hospitals across New Zealand to provide volunteers to work in the Accident & Emergency departments alongside the doctors and nurses.

In 2008, Whakatāne Hospital joined the programme with, on average, 25 men and women on the team, volunteering their time for 12 hours a day, seven days a week with each person working four hours at a time.

In October 2025, Hato Hone St John announced it would no longer be supporting this community programme, and it was offered to the hospitals to continue with the concept.

Many hospitals, including Whakatāne and Tauranga, took up the offer and on March 2, 18 members of the Whakatāne team, including those pictured, transitioned into becoming hospital FEDS.

It is a proud legacy, and strong future for Friends of ED that will continue supporting staff and the communities.

They welcome more people to join their team if anyone has four hours a week to volunteer for this rewarding activity.

To make an application, email [email protected].

For more information, contact Te Reinga Kingi-Chase 027 231 3365 or Glennys Rogers 027 360 6975

Photo supplied