Two volunteers will be helping to spread the festive spirit on Christmas Day at Whiston Hospital.

Friends Verna Caizergues and Ann Kilpatrick will be in their usual position in main entrance, guiding visitors to the hospital to where they need to be.

Verna, who turns 83 on Boxing Day, has been a volunteer at Whiston for the past six years and has worked on Christmas Day every year since joining.

A former nurse, she is often one of the first people that visitors to the hospital see as she directs patients and relatives to the places they need to be on the site.

She said: “I became a volunteer here because the NHS served me well during my career and I wanted to give something back.

“I love coming here and helping patients and always put myself down to work on Christmas Day. There is always something special about it.

“I know most people who we see don’t want to be here, but the atmosphere is always really good and the people we see are so nice. Myself, and the other volunteers who come in, do all we can to help everyone who needs it and keep their spirits high.’’

Ann said: “I do a little bit of everything like Verna does, meeting and greeting and pointing people in the right direction.

“The people we meet like seeing a friendly face.’’

Asked why she volunteers on Christmas Day she joked: “I come here for a bit of peace and quiet to be honest. I have a busy household so a couple of hours here are just great.’’

If you would like to know more about volunteering opportunities, contact Anita Gillen, Voluntary Services Manager, at volunteers@sthk.nhs.uk.