A LEIGH woman has spoken of her sadness after a Ukrainian woman denied potentially life saving treatment on the NHS because she held the wrong passport died.

Diana Andrusjak, 46, of Eva Street, was waiting for an 11th hour glimmer of hope for family friend Halyna Zarvanska.

But sadly Miss Zarvanska, 31, who has Hodgkins Disease, passed away on Sunday following a 10-day stay in a London Hospital.

Miss Zarvanska had been treated in The Royal Bolton Hospital in order to stabilise her.

She felt well enough to travel to London for a sight seeing tour with husband Oleksandr, and daughter Victoria aged nine. However she collapsed and was rushed into one of the capital's hospitals were she died 10 days later.

Mrs Andrusjak said: "Her family are devastated -- it was totally unexpected.

"It is very sad indeed.

"She was a frail lady but she had a lovely personality."

Mrs Andrusjak has tried to console Mrs Zarvanska's young daughter.

She said: "I have spoken to her and told her that her mum is looking after her still and is looking down on her taking care of her.

"It is very difficult for everyone at the moment." Mrs Andrusjak had helped to raise £1,000 to pay for chemotherapy treatment.

She also acted as a translator for Mrs Zarvanska who could speak no English.

Mrs Zarvanska was taken ill while on holiday visiting relatives in Bolton but discovered that this country would not pay for treatment beyond emergency care because Britain does not have a mutual arrangement with Ukraine for medical cases.

Her funeral will take place in Bolton next week.