A NEW hospital unit designed to ease the suffering of patients with incurable diseases was officially opened yesterday in a North Yorkshire market town.

The new palliative care unit at the Lambert Memorial Hospital, in Thirsk, will be known as the Joan Maynard Room, after the former Labour MP from nearby Sowerby, who died in 1998.

Funding for the unit was raised by the Friends of the Lambert Hospital and the Joan Maynard Palliative Care Appeal. The development was opened by Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York.

Sue Young, chairman of Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "We are extremely grateful to the appeal committee and to the Friends of the Lambert Hospital for their energy, enthusiasm and commitment in driving forward this exciting development.

"Joan Maynard was an inspirational figure, who was a strong supporter of hospice care, and it is fitting that the room should be named after her.

"It provides facilities that create an environment conducive to providing palliative care, paying attention to comfort and privacy for both the patient, their family and those who provide the care.

"It is going to make a huge difference to the quality of life of people who are nearing the end of their lives."

Chris Ward, a nurse consultant at the PCT, said: "The word palliative has is origins in the Latin verb 'palliere' meaning to cloak or shield.

"Palliative care aims to provide support and enable patients to deal with distressing symptoms and the concerns associated with an advanced and progressive disease, which cannot be cured.

"Palliative care concentrates on the quality of life of patients and their families, focusing on controlling pain and other symptoms, and meeting a person's social, emotional and spiritual needs."

Earlier this month, another palliative care unit was opened at the Rutson Hospital, in Northallerton, by Richmond MP William Hague.

The Joan Maynard Appeal also contributed to this development.

Farmer's daughter Joan Maynard was born in Easingwold.

She was renowned for championing the rights of the working class, farm workers and the rural poor.