HOSPITAL bosses have been forced to draw up a waiting list because they have so many volunteers wanting to help overstretched doctors.

Su Maddocks, who is in charge of Voluntary Services at Great Western Hospital, says that she has been swamped by kind-hearted folk wishing to give up their time to help Swindon's sick.

For the first time since the flagship hospital opened in Decem-ber 2002 volunteers are being placed on waiting lists while staff deal with a backlog.

The news comes as the Government launches its Year of the Volunteer scheme.

Throughout 2005 the nation is being asked to think about those less fortunate and offer a few hours a week to a good cause.

This month the spotlight is on health. Hospitals are expected to play a major role.

People under 30 are particularly sought to help dispel common myths of volunteering.

Mrs Maddocks stressed that she never turns people away but warned would-be volunteers that they face long waits for a placement.

She said: "Just now we have around 100 volunteers on our books and we haven't the room to take on any more just at the moment.

"Initially, we thought it was due to curiosity when the hospital opened.

"Now we have realised that it's simply down to Swindon having a lot of very generous people."

Many of the volunteers are teenagers wanting to bolster their CVs. "Most universities now want to see evidence of volunteering particularly those wanting to become doctors, nurses and physiotherapists," said Mrs Maddocks.

"We enjoy a very good relationship with New College and a number of their students have placements with us."

According Mrs Maddocks there are many reasons why people want to lend a hand on the wards.

"Some of our volunteers are thinking about a career change and want to test the water first.

"Others are mothers who want to ease themselves back into the working environment.

"The hospital also has a large number of pensioner volunteers. One elderly gentleman told me recently that 'there is only so much golf you can play in a week'."

Mrs Maddocks added that it's a win-win arrangement.

"Hospitals form part of the community and as such we try to reflect that through volunteers," she said.

It's thought more volunteers will be needed in March when the new state-of-the-art Brunel Treatment Centre is opened.

Kevin Shoesmith