An MP volunteered at the North London Hospice to highlight the work of the charity as part of a national week of action.

Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, visited the hospice, in Woodside Avenue, Finchley, today as part of national Hospice Care Week.

During her day the Conservative MP helped volunteers at the hospice making tea and refreshments, washing up and talking to patients.

She said: “North London Hospice is a wonderful place and it does such important job not only for the patients but also their families.

“I have been involved with the hospice for years now but this was a great chance to see the front line work of volunteers and nurses.

“One thing I have noticed is that the simple things really do make a huge difference to patients.

“The work of the volunteers and the staff here is fantastic and they give a huge amount of support.

Volunteer Joe Attridge started working at the hospice after his wife died there six years ago.

He said: “What I have learnt is that one of the most important things to patients is the human contact and just helping with the simple things.

“What a lot of people ask me to do is just to read to them or sit and listen to them.”

As part of Hospice Care Week, North London Hospice joined forces with more than 100 others across the UK to highlight the growing need for hospice care.

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer and Enfield North MP Nick de Bois volunteered at some of the hospice's charity shops.