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A new room has opened at Rosemere Cancer Centre’s in-patient Ribblesdale Ward in memory of a Leyland cancer nurse specialist.
The new private and tranquil space for patients has been left as Sandra Curtis’ legacy, who nursed on the ward.
She died of cancer three years ago on what would have been her 60th birthday, her widower Andrew, daughter Charlotte, sister-in-law Janet Curtis, nieces Naomi and Hannah Curtis and her sister-in-law Margaret Hartley raised almost £3,000.
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The family organised a family fun day for 160 people at Charnock Farm in Leyland and donated the funds raised to Rosemere.
They converted what was a run-down office into a new space with new wall art, furniture and colours chosen by the ward staff.
Sandra’s family were invited to visit the finished room. Andrew said: “We are thrilled. We think the room is spot on. I know Sandra would be very proud of what we – her family and friends, Ribblesdale Ward colleagues and Rosemere Cancer Foundation – have created.
“Nursing was Sandra’s vocation and her calling was cancer nursing. Even when Sandra was ill herself with cancer and her full-time role became too much, she worked part-time at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital on the chemotherapy unit.”
“The eulogies Sandra received from her colleagues and former patients have been a great comfort to myself and Charlotte, who has followed in her mum’s footsteps and is a radiography assistant at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. In both Charlotte and this new space, Sandra lives on.”
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Now, the room has officially been opened as a quiet space for patients who are being treated.
Dan Hill, head of charities for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation said: “What was a bit of a dilapidated hot desking room is now a relaxing and calming quiet room.
“The Ribs team wanted to create this space for patients to enjoy as a legacy for Sandra in line with what her family wanted. They also felt the ward could benefit from a private room where patients, who may have had some bad news, or relatives, who may have lost someone, could just take some time to be.”
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