UNIVERSITY Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has successfully opened a new café run by volunteers at Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal.

Following a decision by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) to close the existing RVS cafe at WGH on Friday March 17, the new Westmorland Cafe opened on Monday March 20, run by hospital volunteers in partnership with the UHMBT Catering Department.

It will be open from Monday to Friday each week from 8.30am to 4pm and will offer a variety of drinks and snacks.

However, the Westmorland Café is not an average café as all profits will go directly to the hospital trust to enhance the patient experience.

Customers can feel good about enjoying the excellent choice of coffees, teas, and the house special hot chocolate, knowing that their purchase will support a good cause.

The café's menu features a range of sandwiches, salad boxes, confectionery, hot and cold drinks, cakes, fresh fruit salad and seasonal items. It also offers a range of second-hand books and DVDs for sale.

The café is a 'great' place to grab a quick snack or relax with friends over a hot drink. The 'welcoming atmosphere' and 'friendly' volunteers make it the perfect place to take a break from a busy day.

Lynne Wyre, Acting Executive Chief Nurse for UHMBT, said: “It's wonderful news that our cafe at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal has re-opened with our Morecambe Bay Trust volunteers, and that patients, visitors and staff will be able to enjoy a hot drink and snack while they are using or working within our services.

"Our heartfelt thanks go out to the volunteers for keeping the service going.”

For more information, visit the Westmorland Cafe within the outpatient department at the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal.

A similar café run by volunteers has also opened at the Queen Victoria Centre in Morecambe.

There is a still a RVS cafe at Furness General Hospital in Barrow and at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.