THE hospital has thanked volunteers who gave up their time during the busy winter months.

Royal Voluntary Service has been supporting the NHS since it began 70 years ago and today the charity has thousands of volunteers providing comfort and compassion to staff and patients through its cafés, shops and legendary ward trolleys.

Last year, volunteers offered extra shifts during the very busy winter season in a number of NHS Trusts – and they have stepped up again this year to help ease the strain.

Jackie Bene, CEO of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re very grateful to the RVS volunteers for their kind thoughts and selfless offer of help at this busy time. Whilst the hospital is coping well with the additional demands of the winter months, having extra support for our patients and the teams looking after them is always welcome.”

During January and February, the charity’s volunteers will be conducting extra rounds with their trolleys and providing free water and fruit to patients, visitors and staff teams alike. They worked with suppliers Britvic and Ginsters to agree the gifts.