It was put on at Cranleigh’s banqueting suite in Hornchurch by Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), which runs Queen’s.
One of the volunteers is Jeffrey Marks, a 77-year-old from Hornchurch, who comes in twice a week to cut patients’ hair and help at meal times.
“There are people worse off than me,” he says. “So if I can give a little back and help them, that’s all the better.”
Patricia Pawley, 88, from Rainham, has been helping out since her husband died a year ago.
She decided to volunteer “because of the lovely care he received” and now comes in one day a week taking meals round and making patients cups of tea.
Also helping in the kitchen is 19-year-old Christopher Tang, from Chigwell, who wants to study medicine.
Queen’s volunteer facilitator Ellen Haynes said: “The time and dedication our volunteers give makes a big contribution to patient care.”
