A HOSPITAL day unit is to be renamed in honour of one of its fundraisers, who died recently.

The unit at Ripon Community Hospital will be renamed after Leon Smallwood in a ceremony on August 6, ahead of the Ripon Hospital League of Friends' summer fete that day.

Mr Smallwood, who lived in Littlethorpe, died in January after a long illness. He had been a fundraiser for the Friends for more than 50 years, much of the time as chairman. Mr Smallwood's widow, Muriel, will unveil a steel plaque to mark the renaming.

Matron Jean Taylor said: "This is a popular move at the hospital, as a number of staff during Mr Smallwood's final illness came to me and asked if there could be a permanent tribute to his memory in the building he did so much to help.

"The change of name is particularly timely, as the role of the unit at the hospital has changed in recent times, and the old name no longer adequately described its function."

The Leon Smallwood Unit will house the fast response team, the falls clinic, ante-natal classes and provide a venue for staff training as well as play host to a range of internal and community meetings - including the League of Friends and Ripon City Partnership.

The primary care trust also has plans to develop palliative day care services there.