THE `trolley dollies' of St Luke's are on their last runs.
After nearly 50 years of serving thousands of patients and staff, the volunteer refreshment runs will end.
Health chiefs are expected to sell the hospital site for development when the Crosland Moor hospital shuts and the final wards close down.
The project, run by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, will have to cease.
At its peak, there were 12 wards in use at St Luke's as well as operating theatres and various clinics.
It also provided space for some patients after the closures of Storthes Hall Hospital, Kirkburton, and Mill Hill Hospital in Dalton.
Now there are just four wards which are served by the volunteers, who provide cold drinks, sweets, crisps, biscuits and toiletries to patients.
Project manager Mrs Muriel Sandford said: "It is a great shame they have decided to close the hospital.
"It has been fun over the years doing the trolley runs.
"But we are down to the last 15 volunteers and we had to cut down the service to three days a week.
"It started in the late 1950s and was very popular with the patients and with the staff. Now people bring their own refreshments in and we have found that we cannot shift the stock as quickly. But it will be a sad day when it does end for good".
