The Maidstone Hospital League of Friends does a wonderful job, but it needs more volunteers.

The League runs a shop within the hospital, a tea bar and a separate book shop, all greatly appreciated by patients, staff and visitors.

Even despite the pandemic, its activities raised £250,000 over the past two years, which was spent buying additional equipment for the hospital.

League chairman Gareth Owen said: "The hospital is very appreciative of the support we give them."

But the league was obliged to cancel one vital service during the Covid crisis - the ward trolleys.

Previously the volunteers would push a trolley around the wards so that bed-ridden patients had the chance to buy sweets, tissues, puzzle-books or magazines at their bedside.

Mr Owen said: "It was very much appreciated, not only because patients could buy what they needed, but also more because they enjoyed the chance of a chat with our volunteers."

The league has recently been given an indication from the hospital management that it will shortly be allowed to resume the trolley service, but now it finds it has too few volunteers.

Mr Owen said: "We want to bring back the trolleys and expand our services more generally, but there has been a fall-off in the number of volunteers during Covid.

"Sadly of course some have died; others, forced to stay at home, have simply lost the habit of volunteering.

"It's a great shame because our volunteers find their role very rewarding when they see the joy on the patients' faces.

"Not only are they helping others, but it is also a social activity that brings its own rewards."

The league holds regular get-togethers for its volunteers to interact.

There are still dozens of willing hands, but the shop is manned by three people from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, with the day split into three shifts.That's a lot of shifts to cover.

In addition there is the book shop which last year sold 32,000 books, raising £32,000 for the hospital.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, even if only for one or two shifts, please connect either Mr Owen by email to gareth.owen6@NHS.net, or speak to the shop manager Jacqui Featherstone on 01622 224781, or simply call in at the shop and chat to the staff.