Family and friends of Phyllis Gorton, a former Blackburn magistrate who passed away in July 2019, have donated four specialist recliner chairs to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT)’s official charity, ELHT&Me.
The chairs, which were purchased for Ward B18 at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, were funded from generous donations in lieu of flowers at Phyllis’ funeral.
“We were overwhelmed by the amount of money we received in donations”, said Phyllis’ daughter Fiona. “It showed us how special Mum was to so many people and what everyone actually thought of her. She was a very special lady to so many people”.
Phyllis was a well-respected member of the local community, having served as a magistrate for 32 years. As an attendee and member of the Baptist Church in Blackburn, she was nominated as one of the recipients of Maundy money from the Queen at Blackburn Cathedral in 2014, for her contribution to the local community.
The family decided to donate to the ward in Phyllis’ memory to thank staff for the care they gave to her, and to benefit future patients. “The staff are a very dedicated, caring team of people. Mum was happy on this ward and would say she was ‘in the right and best place’. She was so well looked after.”
Phyllis had been receiving medical treatment for a heart condition for many years, and returned to Ward B18 in July 2019, where she spent her final days, receiving palliative care and support, and surrounded by her family.
“There was no ageism involved in her treatment”, said Fiona, “the staff continued to care for my mum even when they knew she was coming to the end, they wanted to do everything they could to improve her quality of life. They paid attention to the little things, even providing seven pillows to make sure she felt comfortable in her last moments.”
Denise Gee, Fundraising Manager at ELHT, said “We’re so grateful for this donation from Phyllis’ family, it’s a lovely tribute to her. It’s clear she was very much loved and will be remembered fondly.
“Donations made to ELHT&Me are always spent in the area of care they are intended for, and the charity ensures that they fund much-needed projects and initiatives.”
For more information about the hospital’s charity, visit www.elht.nhs.uk/charity, or email fundraising@elht.nhs.uk