SOME patients at Medway Maritime Hospital are missing out on services in the chapel because of a shortage of volunteers to push them there in wheelchairs.

The Rev Alan Amos, the Medway NHS chaplain, is appealing for more volunteers to come forward. He said: "There is a serious shortage of hospital chaplaincy visitors prepared to do this work, spending just two or three hours here a week."

"We felt the shortage only last Sunday. We normally advertise our services on the way around the wards, but because we did not have the people to push patients there in wheelchairs we carried out limited advertising and patients who would undoubtedly have loved to attend did not get the opportunity."

He added: "It is an extremely rewarding job to do and all we ask is that male and female volunteers are in reasonable health and not in danger of injuring themselves by pushing a wheelchair.

Anybody able to help is asked to contact Mr Amos on 01634 833816 or Mr Starling on 01634 830788.