STAFF at the Pendleside Hospice in Reedley are helping people with life-threatening illnesses in Romania by recycling unused medical supplies.

Certain items at Pendleside were recently up-dated and instead of the old stock gathering dust or being thrown away, it was decided to put it to good use.

Wendy Laycock, Day Care sister at the charity-based hospice, contacted the Help the Hospices organisation and explained that the equipment, which included five nebulisers and one glucometer, was up for grabs.

She was told Romanian hospice Casa Sperantei -- which means Hospice of Hope in English -- was desperate for equipment, particularly nebulisers.

The nebulisers and glucometer are dated but in perfect working order and will be a welcome gift for the hospice, which opened in Brasov in June.

Day Care nurse Julie Bell said: "It is a wonderful idea and I hope that other hospices take their lead from this and all start contributing unwanted medical items. It is a fantastic thing to do. They would otherwise be thrown away.

"The company which is taking the medical supplies to Romania is also doing a good job."

The equipment must be taken to Otford in Kent for distribution to Romania and Tony Galawan, general manager of Express Freight Solutions, in Smallshaw Lane, Burnley, offered to take the package at no cost to either hospice.

Jenny Chambers, UK co-ordinator of the Romanian hospice, said: "We are so grateful for the wonderful support we have received from another UK Hospice.

"We can't thank Pendleside enough because we know this will mean so much to the staff and patients at Casa Sperantei.

"It is really important because we rely so much on support from everyone in the UK.

"The Casa Sperantei is the first in-patient teaching hospice. Hopefully the equipment will get to Romania towards the end of next week."