New hospital lecture theatre tribute to Anna

A LECTURE theatre at Torbay Hospital has been named after a young Brixham student.

The Anna Dart Lecture Theatre was officially opened by her parents and sister in memory of the South Devon College student, who died in 1997 of a life-long illness.

Following Anna's death 12 years ago, her mother and father, Marion and Robert, and sister Rebecca set up a special memorial fund.

Within a year and thanks to the generosity of the people of the Bay, Anna's family, who live in Brixham, raised more than £50,000.

The money went towards the building of the new lecture theatre which is part of the £6million Horizon Centre at the hospital where she received treatment and care.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Marion said seeing Anna's name on the wall of the lecture theatre had brought it all back.

But she insisted it was an 'amazing building Anna would have been proud of'.

She said: "It's so emotional, but at the same time it fills us with so much pride.

"One of the things with Anna was she never looked back, but kept looking forward.

"She was always positive and thought things would be well in the end.

"She would have been so proud of this amazing building. She would have been very interested in the research side of things and how it will help other people."

Hospital bosses said the Anna Dart fund had played a vital role in the construction of the new centre, which is dedicated to innovation, education and research in healthcare.

Consultant gastroenterologist John Lowes, who oversaw Anna's care for several years, said the naming of the largest teaching space in the new building in memory of Anna, and in recognition of the remarkable sum of money gifted through the appeal, was a lasting expression of the hospital trust's gratitude to the local community and Anna's family.

He said: "The large donation has allowed a visionary centre to be built, which will make an immeasurable contribution to future healthcare, improving the skills of healthcare staff and helping to attract high quality clinicians to Torbay Hospital.

"This is very much the start of something new and important."

Anna's father Robert said Mr Lowes had had a great vision when he thought up the Horizon Centre.

He added: "It's a tribute to all the staff at Torbay Hospital and the care Anna and we as a family received here from day one.

"It's an amazing centre. Everyone has been so wonderful to us over the years."

Anna's sister Rebecca added: "The equipment in this new centre is fantastic. It's unique in the UK. Anna would have loved it."

Anna had a digestive disease, lipodystrophy, a rare and life-long illness which affected her immune system. She died in 1997 aged 19.

After her untimely death, Anna's family launched the appeal to further the work of the hospital and in particular its gastroenterology team and endoscopy unit staff as they had played such an important part in Anna's care over the years of her illness, while she was a teenager.

The appeal started in May 1998 and was concluded at a Celebration Ball on what would have been Anna's 21st birthday in November 1999.

Mrs Dart said it had never been about the money when they started the fundraising.

She said: "We just wanted to pay something back to the hospital because they gave us so much. We just can't thank them enough for all they did."

She also personally thanked the Herald Express for the support to her family's campaign over the years.

Torbay Hospital's Endoscopy Unit is one of seven centres in the UK which trains consultants and other healthcare professionals in carrying out endoscopies.

Its national standing was instrumental in gaining the hospital trust further recognition in recent years, as one of a handful of NHS Centres for Innovation and Training for surgery.