EPPING Forest Primary Care Trust chief executive Aidan Thomas showed how easy it was to volunteer when he took part in a "befriender" session at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping.
Mr Thomas spent ast Thursday morning on Poplar ward chatting, reading and playing games with elderly patients.
This year is the Year of the Volunteer and as part of it Voluntary Action Epping Forest has launched a Look Who's Volunteering campaign.
Each month has a different theme, with January looking at health.
The aim is to get more people volunteering and to raise the awareness of the different things a volunteer can do.
Mr Thomas said: "The help voluntary workers provide is invaluable to the departments they work in.
Volunteers can provide the personal service for patients that may not be necessary for their medical care, but can add so much to their hospital stay, or visit to an outpatient clinic.
"Volunteers can undertake tasks which can free the staff to concentrate on their skilled duties," he added.
For details on the Year of the Volunteer, ring Voluntary Action Epping Forest on 01992 564178.
