Hospital volunteers were celebrated in Parliament.

Volunteers from the Royal Free Charity were recognised in Parliament at an event hosted by Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq.

Last year the helpers gave 60,000 hours of their time to support services from the trust, which included helping 138,000 patients find their way around the hospital, supporting 935 dementia patients, and giving massages to 33,000 chemotherapy patients before treatment.

They worked in Barnet Hospital. Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free and satellite sites.

Royal Free Charity’s head of volunteering, Jenny Todd, said: "Our amazing team of purple-topped volunteers are well known throughout the hospitals and it’s great to see them getting some recognition in the wider community."

Some other activities taken up by the volunteers include assisting patients during lunch and dinner, providing beauty therapy, running the book trolley and shop trolley services and much more.

Mis Siddiq spoke at the event about compassion that volunteers bring to the hospital in her community and has previously hosting an event at Parliament to promote the charity’s programme as a model of best practice in helping young people participate in positive social action.