Medway Hospital volunteer celebrates 90th birthday

A Kent Hospital volunteer has celebrated her 90th birthday and said she has no plans to hang up her lanyard.

Dotty Rust, who reached this milestone late last month, has been running through the corridors of Medway Maritime Hospital for almost 24 years.

The 90-year-old, who has lived in Chatham for more than 50 years, said she wanted to “keep doing something” after retiring from the payroll department of a Gillingham company 30 years ago.

“People ask me how much longer I’m going to volunteer, and I say I’ll know when the time is right to hang up my volunteer badge,” she said.

Volunteers in the hospital often provide practical assistance to patients, for example when registering or receiving and greeting relatives and visitors.

Ms Rust said she was offering her time “to get to know people and help them.”

“The other day I accompanied someone to her destination – she apologized for being slow because she was 86 years old,” she said.

“I said it was OK, I was 89 and we could slowly walk together. That’s why I was there – to help her.”

Jayne Black, chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said she was “impressed” by Ms Rust “and the dedication of all our volunteers who give up their time and help us deliver high quality, compassionate care”.

“They really are doing a fantastic job and I am incredibly grateful,” she added.