Watford's Member of Parliament has been volunteering at Watford General Hospital helping to support staff and patients.

Despite his full-time commitments as the town's MP, Dean Russell has undertaken two shifts at the hospital where he and fellow volunteers have been helping to take the pressure off frontline workers.

Mr Russell said he saw the call from West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust for help, and being a local leader, he wanted to lead by example and show his support.

In particular, the trust had seen a drop in volunteers due to a number of them falling into the vulnerable category.

Mr Russell applied for a role, before undertaking a three hour training session at neighbouring Watford FC alongside extensive online training and a DBS check.

After all that was completed, he was ready to go.

After two sessions at the hospital, we thought we'd ask the MP how he was finding volunteering.

He said: "I've had two sessions so far. I've been going around the staffing restrooms making sure they've got lots of water and that the food is in date.

"If not, we'll replenish it.

"When people are bringing things into patients, we have volunteers ferrying the items up to the ward. And if there's post for patients, we'll take them up to the wards but we don't go in ourselves.

"I've also been on my hands and knees cleaning zimmer frames in non-Covid-19 areas.

"The volunteers are just incredible. We always get a great reception from the staff at the hospital. It has been a really fulfilling experience so far. I'm aiming to volunteer here once a week."

Mr Russell also commented on how "calm" the atmosphere was at the hospital - despite Watford General admitting hundreds, if not thousands of coronavirus patients during the pandemic.

Watford residents may also have seen the painting Mr Russell created of NHS charities fundraising hero Colonel Tom Moore.

The painting sold on eBay for more than £1,000 and the money will be donated to West Hertfordshire Hospitals' charity, Raise.

Watford Observer: