<p>Who day in day out, work for nothing more than the desire to do something for their community. Over the past few years I have come to know some of them and they are truly the unsung heroes of our communities.</p> <p>Before I was Council leader, I used to work in the cafe a few hours a week. Sadly now I don’t have as much time, but I still keep in touch with many of those volunteers.</p> <p>Their roles are hugely varied - taking you from the reception to the doctor’s waiting room, carrying thick files of doctor’s notes or calling names in the waiting room. Then there are, as some patients call them, the Trolley Dollies. Twice a day, they load up their trolleys with news papers, magazines, sweets and other goods and go into every ward with a smile on their faces and cheer the patients up. There’s those who work in the cafe as cashiers, make the tea and collect the dirty cups and plates from the rest area.</p> <p>Without the support of these volunteers, the League of Friends could not raise the tens of thousands of pounds every year to buy new equipment for our hospital.</p> <p>What happens in the hospital is happening in the wider community in Telford and Wrekin where thousands of other people do all kinds of voluntary work. In our borough there are many people who look after their elderly relatives, saving the Council and health services millions of pounds. They too are our unsung heroes who, particularly at this time of year, deserve our thanks more than ever.</p> <p>On the subject of the PRH, I together with the other group leaders on the Council wrote on September 16 to Secretary of State for Health to seek guarantees on the future of A&amp;E services at the PRH. Jeremy Hunt still hasn’t replied.</p>
