AN Inverclyde Royal volunteer is hoping to return to the Greenock hospital for her university placement after 'falling in love' with the local community.

Caring Connie Mackay volunteers with the physiotherapy team at the site’s Larkfield Unit, which is used by elderly medicine teams to rehabilitate patients.

The 28-year-old works with the team each Thursday morning to ensure the patients are doing their exercises and is able to observe the IRH’s experienced physios in the process.

Connie says that while she is delighted to be learning about physiotherapy, she has also enjoyed getting to know the patients.

She said: “It’s been great to learn from the team and hear from them first-hand about their experiences as a physio, but I’m also really enjoying the connection I’m making with the patients.

“I like to spend a bit of time with them, to get to know them, some of the patients can be in hospital for quite a while and may not have family who can come and visit.

“I enjoy everything about my role, but I would say building the relationships with patients, listening to their stories and being there for them is the best part.”

Connie, who is from Glasgow, is currently studying sports therapy at the City of Glasgow College and hopes to go to university this September to start her physiotherapy studies.

Despite not being from Inverclyde, she says she now feels such a connection with the IRH community that she hopes that she can begin her placement at the hospital when the time comes.

She said: “I love it here, I feel part of the team and the community. Everyone at the hospital is so supportive and helpful, all of the staff can’t do enough for me and are so pleased to hear when I have done well in my exams.

“Inverclyde Royal Hospital is well-known for being such a good teaching hospital too, so I would really hope I could come back here to continue to learn.

"I see so much care and passion from staff here, they care so much about the patients and for each other.”

Harry Balch, Volunteer Manager at NHSGGC, said: “Connie has been amazing since she started volunteering and has become such an important part of the Inverclyde Royal Hospital team.

“Patients, fellow volunteers and staff see what a great job she is doing and the relationships she has built with the local community.

"We’re so pleased she has decided to volunteer with us, while continuing with her studies.

"We are delighted that she also hopes to return to the IRH when it’s time for her physiotherapy placement.”