VOLUNTEERS at the Royal United Hospitals Bath have been thanks for their hard work during the ongoing pandemic.

The hospital held a special get together for volunteers from across the hospital, which was attended by the trust’s executive team.

The socially-distanced tea party, which was held in the grounds of Lansdown Cricket Club, near the RUH’s Combe Park site, was an opportunity for staff to thank the army of volunteers.

RUH chief executive Cara Charles-Barks said: “Our team of volunteers offer so much to the RUH, selflessly donating their time and energy to help us in so many different ways.

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“Due to Covid, volunteering has been a bit different over the past year and some volunteering has had to be put on hold, but our volunteers are still so important to what we do.

“We’re introducing a new strategy in which will see us recruiting even more volunteers in an even wider variety of roles, and ensuring that our volunteers get the best possible experience with us."

“My heartfelt thanks to all of our volunteers across the hospital – we couldn’t do it without you.”

There are more than 400 volunteers at the RUH, some of who have been donating their time for more than 20 years.

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Together, they provide more than 40,000 hours of volunteering each year.

A spokesman for the trust added: "We are lucky to have a wide range of volunteer roles and organisations supporting us here at the RUH, including Pets as Therapy dogs, Dorothy House Compassionate Companions, the Bath Radio team, Forever Friends and The Friends of the RUH who provide volunteers for their shop and café as well for our wards, spiritual care, welcoming patients and visitors and our gardening volunteers."