A volunteer-led service has been set up to provide emotional support to Muslim patients in hospital.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust identified a need for more specialist support for Muslim patients at Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Ilford.

It decided to bring on board Saima Razzaque, Shamim Merchant, Tabassum Khokhar and Sofia Bhatti for the Muslims Support Service (MSS).

Already experienced volunteers for the MSS based at the Gardens of Peace in Hainault, all four were providing support over the phone and face-to-face to members of the Islamic community who had experienced a bereavement.

Sofia, 49, of Redbridge, said: “My husband died in 2012 and it was a traumatic time. That made this a cause close to my heart so I wanted to do something.

“It’s very interesting and you hear lots of stories about their lives.

“I feel privileged that they want to share their stories with me.

“One elderly man stands out for me, I wasn’t sure if he wanted to chat, but he so appreciated it and said what I was doing was amazing. That really reinforced it for me.”

Tabassum, 47, of Gants Hill, added: “I spoke to one lady with breast cancer and her son said I got more out of her in half an hour than he’d been able to in hours.

“We try to be a friendly face and help to make them feel better. I feel blessed to do it and get real satisfaction from it when I can put a smile on a patient’s face.”

Volunteers offer support to all Muslim patients, not just those nearing the end of their life.