A volunteer service that has provided “tea and compassion” at Wharfedale Hospital for more than 40 years will end this spring.

Otley WRVS volunteers, who run the Tea Bar at the hospital’s outpatient department, were given the shock news by letter on New Year’s Eve.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says the change is needed to allow an external contractor to take over its loss-making catering facilities.

WRVS-run services at St James’s and Chapel Allerton Hospital in Leeds will also end in the shake-up, which takes place in April.

But Otley WRVS volunteers like Colette Kendall, of Bramhope, fear the change will be to the detriment of patients. She said: “Everyone's so upset about this, it's such a shame.”

A Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: “We have been keeping the WRVS informed and would like to stress that the decision is a commercial one aimed at ensuring we get best value for money, as we do not believe our restaurants should be subsidised from patient care budgets.”