Jews visiting loved ones at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead on religious days can take advantage of its new Shabbat room.

Families can use the room as a place to relax — and be provided with a simple kosher meal.

It is the result of a donation from the family of Betty Gedalla, a Royal Free volunteer for 32 years, who died in December. Her sons Lawrence and Brian were at the opening ceremony, along with Lady Jakobovits and senior Jewish hospital chaplain Rabbi Meir Salasnik.

Rev Bernd Koschland, the Royal Free Trust’s Jewish chaplain, said the hospital served a large Jewish population and the room would help to “support people when they need it the most”.