Volunteers help patient nutrition

Volunteers are being recruited by a hospital in Cambridgeshire to help ensure patients have a healthy diet and to keep them company at mealtimes.

Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge said elderly patients often required help as many arrived malnourished.

The hospital has launched a mealtime volunteer scheme with members of the public working alongside nutrition assistants to help patients eat.

They also provide the patients with company and ensure they eat the meals.

Suzanne Rigby-Jones, voluntary services manager, said: "Volunteers of different ages and backgrounds are working hard to help improve patient nutrition and wellbeing.

"They make a huge difference by chatting to patients, spending time with those who need assistance to eat and offering an extra pair of hands to staff at a busy time of day."