A vital service for patients and their relatives visiting Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary is under threat if volunteers do not come forward to help run it.

The hospital's League of Friends has provided refreshments for patients and their families on the site for nearly 50 years.

The organisation was originally set up by a group of surgeons' wives who provided tea and biscuits for the walking wounded who turned up at the hospital's former accident and emergency department during the early days of the National Health Service.

The women regularly held musical soirees to raise funds to keep their service going. Over the years, the League of Friends has played an integral role in the day-to-day running of the hospital, with the main cafeteria providing a focal point for patients and visitors alike.

As well as the main cafeteria the league runs two bustling tea bars on the site one in the Ear, Nose and Throat department and the other in the eye hospital.

And it's not only refreshments which are dispensed at the cafes. With doctors and nurses under increasing pressure due to staff shortages on the wards, the volunteers provide an important support service.

They are more able to spend time to lend an ear and offer comfort to patients and relatives than medical staff.

The chairman of the League of Friends. Pat Taylor, says: "A lot of people want to talk about what is going on in their lives and they like talking to someone outside the family.

"Many of our volunteers have been patients at the Radcliffe and decided to join us because they know how important the service is."

But despite the value of the service to patients and their families, the league has already had to be cut opening hours because of a lack of volunteers. The opening hours of one of the tea bars, based in the Ear, Nose and Throat department (ENT), have been slashed and the tea bars are no longer open at weekends.

The league currently has a pool of about 60 volunteers who staff the three tea bars from Monday to Friday. But illness and other commitments mean there is often a shortage of people to serve in the tea bars.

Pat, who has been a volunteer for 13 years, says: "We have had to close the ENT bar because we do not have the staff. We hate doing it but it's purely through necessity.

"And we have not been open at weekends for some time. It's a shame really, because that was a time when people really needed to talk.

"Because the hospital is so spread out over the site it means we need more than just one tea bar.

"The tea bar in the eye hospital is particularly important because a lot of the patients are diabetics and they need to be urgently fed and watered sometimes.

"I joined after I had been to the hospital to visit my aunt. There's a lovely atmosphere here among the volunteers and it is a good way of meeting people, but sadly we find it is a constant battle to recruit new volunteers."

Shifts run from 8.30am to 12.30pm and 12.30pm to 4pm, but hours can be negotiated. For more details about becoming a volunteer, call 01865 224802.

**The league, which is entirely self-funding, will be holding its Christmas fair at the hospital on Wednesday, December 6.