MORE volunteers are needed to give up their free time to help hospital patients in Bradford.

Although there are already more than 500 unsung heroes giving up 104,000 hours of their own time every year to work in a variety of roles at Bradford Teaching Hospitals helping and supporting patients, more are still needed.

Volunteer Service Nurse Manager Chris Heaton said: "Our youngest volunteers are 17 and our oldest will be 90 soon. We've got a real mix of people and ages. Our retired volunteers are our foundation because they stay longer but our younger ones, who have to commit at least six months, are often the NHS professionals of the future building up experience for their CV and seeing if the NHS is going to be for them."

Some volunteers come after being unemployed for a while and are able to get work references to help them go on and get other paid for jobs.

It was two volunteers – and a dog - who picked up the Volunteer of the Year award at The Bradford Hotel, formerly The Hilton last year.

Pets as Therapy and stroke unit volunteer Paul Knowles, his greyhound Robbie and neo-natal volunteer Naz Rafiq shared joint first prize.

Paul, 64, and Robbie the greyhound volunteer weekly on wards F3, F5 and F6 at St Luke’s Hospital and Ward 9 at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and BLISS volunteer, Naz Rafiq, 44, was nominated by senior sister of the BRI’s neonatal unit Susie Minchella for her work in helping and supporting the parents and families of babies born prematurely.

Volunteer opportunities cover a wide range of roles including way-finders to guide patients and visitors around the hospitals, reception helpers, patient supporters, tea bar assistants, child play assistants, chaplaincy visitors, ward trolley service personnel, patient questionnaire volunteers and hospital radio DJs.

Awards were also given out at last year's ceremony to 47 volunteers with five, ten, 15, 20 and 25 years’ service.

Meanwhile, two special awards were presented to Philip Barfield, of St Luke’s Sound Hospital Radio, who has been a volunteer for 35 years and Daphne Pinder, 81, of the Friends of the Bradford Royal Infirmary, who has served as a volunteer guide for 40 years.

Anyone interest in becoming a volunteer needs to have about three to four hours a week to spare, usually on the same day of the week so rotas can be planned.

For more information contact the Voluntary Services Department on 01274 364309 or e-mail volunteer.information@bthft.nhs.uk