MEMBERS of an East Lancashire mosque have donated £47,000 to provide home comforts for patients at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital.

Blackburn peer Lord Adam Patel and representatives from Masjid-e-Tauheedul Islam mosque in Bicknell Street met health bosses to present the gift this week to the hospitals’ charitable fund.

It is used to improve equipment for patient areas, and pay for additional patient “comforts and amenities”, outside of what the NHS normally provides.

Speaking to health chiefs during a presentation event, Lord Patel said: “At Bicknell Street mosque we have always taken part in charity work.

“When the hospital needed a new MRI scanner we contributed generously, there was a need in the eye department and we also donated there and throughout the world we are collecting handsome money for charities in Pakistan and India and to people who are suffering in Africa.

“We have collected this money for this particular purpose for East Lancashire Hospitals to contribute something back.

“We want to prove ourselves as good citizens. We need to work together because this is our hospital and this is for the East Lancashire community.

“We are delighted to continue to offer our support.”

Mark Brearley, East Lancashire Hospitals’ chief executive, said the donation was a “fantastic gesture”.

He said: “I want to thank you on behalf of the organisation and its staff – we will put this money to good use.

“The NHS over the last 10 years has seen quite a significant amount of investment.

“We know because of the world economy and economy in this country that this investment could not be sustained.

“What we need to do is to spend the money we have as wisely as we can do, to ensure the best possible coverage and service for you.”

Professor Iqbal Singh, consultant in elderly medicine, said working with the mosque had helped build important relationships.

He said: “We cannot improve healthcare and health without getting right to the heart of the community.”