ABOUT 50 hospital volunteers were given a festive thank you at a buffet Christmas party.

Southend Hospital volunteers, from desk staff, feeding staff, drivers, and even therapy dog owners, were treated to a buffet dinner with cake and mince pies at St Peter’s Church Hall in Eastwood Road North, Leigh, on Thursday.

Aged between 18 and 80 plus, the portion of the hospital’s 450 volunteers were thanked by chief executive Sue Hardy and chairman Alan Tobias before tucking into the festive grub.

Voluntary services manager Jane O’Connell said: “We hold two events per year for volunteers, one as an awards ceremony in summer, and a Christmas one like this as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for all their hard work.

“They all do a fantastic job and are lovely people.

“They’re vital for the hospital because, unlike the staff, they’re not so rushed off their feet so have time to spend with the patients – which means they’re helping the staff, the patients, and their families too.”

For more information about volunteering and fundraising with the hospital, visit southendhospital-fundraising.org