THE coffee shop within a North West specialist cancer centre has announced profits of £5,939 over the last year.

The Rosemere Centre, which treats cancer patients across south Cumbria, for the 2019-2020 financial year - £4,569 down on the previous year due to Covid-19.

The profits are to be reinvested in the centre, according to Rosemere chiefs, 'to help the charity continue to fund projects to help local cancer patients'.

Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “Despite profits being down, it was a fantastic and much needed donation by the committee, which works tirelessly to support us by providing a coffee shop that is stocked and staffed entirely by volunteers and which is loved equally by cancer centre staff, patients and the family members, friends and carers, who attend appointments with them.

“All its profits come to us and have done ever since it opened in 2002. If ever a service was missed, it is this one.

"Unfortunately, we don’t know yet when the Rosemere Coffee Shop can re-open as the most important thing is the safety of patients.

"The first step in working to keep them safe is to limit those they come into contact with to essential medical staff so the coffee shop has to remain closed for the foreseeable future.”

Besides selling refreshments, the coffee shop provides a free hot drink for all patients and companions attending the cancer centre with them.

Marion Jackson, who manages the coffee shop, said: “We all get to know our customers and so have been missing them.

“We are also well aware we’re a vital income stream for Rosemere Cancer Foundation. I am sure I speak for everyone involved in the coffee shop when I say we can’t wait to get back to work as soon as it’s deemed safe for patients.”