Deborah Fenney

Position: Researcher
Teams: Policy

Deborah works in the policy team. Before joining the Fund in 2018, Deborah worked for two years as a senior analyst at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). While at CQC she worked on various projects including reviews of health and social care systems in local authority areas and a review of how NHS trusts investigate deaths of patients.

Deborah has a PhD in sociology and social policy from the University of Leeds, which explored disabled people’s access to sustainable lifestyles.

Some of the many ways in which volunteers can improve patients' experience in hospital

Report

The role of volunteers in the NHS: views from the front line

Commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service and Helpforce, this report looks at the perceptions of frontline NHS staff working in acute care about the operational pressures they face, how they understand the roles and value of volunteers and what gaps there are that volunteers could help fill.

Blog

Volunteers in NHS hospitals: developing the infrastructure to support them is a win-win

The role of volunteers in the NHS cannot be overstated, but good management is essential to making sure they provide NHS staff with the support they need.