A SHROPSHIRE health group has thanked its volunteers who have played their part in providing healthcare for residents.

Health and social care group Healthwatch Shropshire will be celebrating the difference volunteers make to their community during this year’s Volunteers’ Week.

More than 20 volunteers currently offer their time to Healthwatch Shropshire and help to provide health and care services to people in the region.

Their work also involves speaking to the public to get feedback on the services they offer, and how they can improve local health and social care services.

Steph Dunbar, volunteer officer at Healthwatch Shropshire, said: “We have a fantastic team of volunteers, who do a wide range of activities for Healthwatch Shropshire.

“Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to publicly thank them for all their hard work and support.

“It’s thanks to our volunteers that we are able to get out and about into so many of our communities and listen to the views and experiences of so many on local health and social care services.

“We are always looking for more volunteers and would love to hear from people, whatever their background.

“We’d encourage people to get in touch and have a chat about the many ways they can get involved with Healthwatch Shropshire and making a difference to their communities.”

The volunteers put in more than 1,800 hours of their time to help people have their say about the NHS.

Helen, a volunteer at Healthwatch Shropshire, said: “Volunteering for Healthwatch Shropshire is so rewarding and the team of staff and volunteers are so friendly and helpful.

“Since retiring four years ago I have really enjoyed the challenge of being an enter and view representative visiting health services across Shropshire and listening to what residents of Shropshire say about care homes, hospitals and doctors.”

To find out more about volunteering with Healthwatch Shropshire, call Steph on 01743 237 884, email enquiries@healthwatchshropshire.co.uk or visit www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/get-involved