DUDLEY’S hospital chief has praised the efforts of kind-hearted volunteer drivers who have been braving snow clogged streets to transport doctors and nurses to and from Russells Hall Hospital.

Big-hearted 4x4 drivers swung into action as appeals were issued on social media as the region was hit by an Arctic blast on Sunday.

And their sterling efforts to turn out in the wintry weather, which continued on Monday, have been praised for helping to keep the borough’s main hospital functioning.

Diane Wake, chief executive of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (pictured below), said: "We are overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received from all the volunteers across the local community who have come forward to help transport our staff to and from work.

Dudley News:

"We have received a huge amount of support from over 70 volunteers with 4x4 vehicles and the West Midlands 4x4 response team following a plea for help on social media.

"The volunteers are helping to keep our services running by making sure our staff can get to and from work.

"We are also very fortunate that staff at the Trust have made every effort to come into work as normal and our district nurses have been walking to patients’ homes where necessary.”

Dudley News:

Patients are advised to try and attend their hospital appointments as normal unless they have been contacted to say otherwise.