Cancer ward room 'transformed' into calming space

Staff and patients at East Surrey Hospital, as well as members of the public, have raised thousands of pounds to transform a once empty room into a calming space for people undergoing cancer treatment.

The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Charity (SSHC) said the £5,000 raised meant patients in the Redhill hospital now had a more peaceful and comfortable environment to discuss "what can be challenging news".

The room on the Godstone Ward, which previously had plain white walls, is now a "warm space with tranquil scenes that inspire a sense of calm".

Emmanuel Dimaisip, ward manager and chemotherapy nurse on Godstone Haematology Ward, thanked all those involved for their donations.

"The collective work, compassion and willingness to help wherever needed has made a meaningful difference for our patients and their relatives, who we are already receiving a lot of positive feedback from," he said.

"Thanks to generous donations, we have been able to bring comfort, clarity, and care to the people we look after."

The money was raised through a number of activities, including marathons, online appeals and a donation from Stoneman Funeral Service.

Andrew Bickerdike, head of charity at the SSHC, said: "Thank you to everyone who raised money or donated to the cancer fund to help make this happen.

"We know being in hospital can be hard and, as a charity, we are on a mission to change that.

"The transformation of this room in Godstone Ward is a great example of what a difference donations and fundraising can make."

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