From patient to volunteer: Leo’s journey back to the NHS
To mark this year’s National Volunteers’ Week, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT) is celebrating the invaluable role volunteers play in supporting NHS services and communities. At LGT alone, over 250 dedicated volunteers contribute thousands of hours across a range of roles from greeting patients and visitors to supporting clinical teams on the wards. Volunteers come from all walks of life, and Leo Phillips-Waller’s story is a reminder of the difference one volunteer can make.
Seven years ago, Leo Phillips-Waller’s life changed forever. At just 28, he was involved in a devastating motorcycle accident on Old Kent Road. Thrown from his bike and suffering a traumatic brain injury, Leo was placed in an induced coma for four weeks and faced a long, uncertain recovery. He lost his memory, his independence, and for a time, hope.
Leo recalls: “I woke up not knowing who I was or where I was. I couldn’t remember my fiancée, my job, or the life I’d built. Everything was gone.”
The accident marked the start of a long, uncertain road to recovery. He had to relearn how to live, leaning on his family for support after losing his independence, his relationship, and his career plans.
But today, Leo is giving back in the most meaningful way. Now 35, he volunteers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, part of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT), on Ward 18 dementia ward, offering care, compassion, and conversation to some of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.
“The NHS didn’t just save my life. They gave my grandmother dignity at the end of hers,” he says. “Volunteering is the least I can do to say thank you.”
Leo’s turning point came in 2022, when his beloved grandmother was diagnosed with dementia. As her condition worsened, he became her primary caregiver, a role he held until her death in 2024. That experience helped him understand the emotional and physical toll of dementia and inspired him to support others facing the same journey.
“I get on really well with older people. I love hearing their stories and learning from their lives. Caring for my nan gave me insight that I now bring to the ward.”
On Ward 18, Leo is known for his warmth, humour, and hands-on support, from feeding patients and offering shaves to lifting spirits with his smile.
“Sometimes, all someone needs is a warm hand to hold,” he says. “If I can make one person smile each day, then I’ve done something good.”
“It’s the little things that matter most.”
His personal experience with memory loss and confusion gives him a unique connection with dementia patients.
“I’ve been there, frightened, unsure of what’s happening. That empathy helps me offer real reassurance.”
Leo is also a source of support for NHS colleagues, who he knows work incredibly hard every day.
“I try to bring a bubbly energy. I’ve seen how tough their shifts can be, and I want to be someone who makes it a bit easier.”
As LGT celebrates Volunteers’ Week, Leo’s story is a reminder of resilience, recovery, and the extraordinary impact of giving back.
“Volunteering changed my life,” he says. “If you’re thinking about it, just do it. And if you ever forget why it matters, come and find me. I’ll remind you.”
Leo’s journey from patient to volunteer is a powerful reminder of the strength we find in helping others.
“The only option is to keep going and to be a little kinder to others, because you never know what battles they might be facing. The truth is, without the NHS, I wouldn’t be here today. My parents would have lost their only son. I owe my life to them, and I’ll never forget that.”
Margarita Vidiella, Head of Charity and Volunteers at LGT, said: “We are grateful to Leo for all his volunteering efforts and for sharing his story, his dedication makes a huge difference to our patients and colleagues. Our volunteers play vital role at LGT. The time and dedication devoted by them to our services and to our community, is amazing. Whether they volunteer to give back to our community, are looking to gain valuable NHS experiences, or simply wish to help, we cannot thank our volunteers enough for all their commitment and the difference they make every day. They are true heroes.”
If you know anyone who may be interested in volunteering with Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, please feel free to share the following link to our website, where they can find further information: https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/become-a-volunteer.
