POOLE hospital’s cancer services team has planted a memorial tree to honour those who have sadly lost their lives as a result of Covid-19 as a mark of respect to them.

The tree was planted in the Sandbanks garden on Friday, July 9, with a small representation of the team in attendance to remember those who have sadly passed since the start of the pandemic.

Sandbanks ward sister Gemma Bryant said it was a gesture in memoriam to those who have tragically lost their lives to Covid-19

In a statement provided to the Echo she said: “As a team, we wished to do something in memory of our cancer patients who sadly died during the pandemic.

“It was an incredibly difficult time, particularly as they could not have their families with them.

“It was important to us that these patients are remembered individually.”

Family members wishing to come and see the tree or spend time in the garden post lockdown can do so via an appointment through the hospital.

The tree was accompanied by several painted pebbles, many with pictures of rainbows, and a plaque commemorating the lives of the patients lost on the Sandbanks and Durlston wards since the start of the pandemic.

University Hospitals Dorset shared the news via social media alongside several pictures which included images of staff planting the ceremonial tree.

Alongside imagery of a representation of the team in attendance, where the tree is planted and a poem.

The team is keen to iterate the occasion was a mark of respect to the patients that have passed in what has been very difficult circumstances to deal with over the past year or so.

The centre provides a wide range of treatments including radiotherapy and chemotherapy for both common and rare cancers.

To date in excess of 128,000 have tragically lost their lives since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the initial stages of 2020.