ANDOVER War Memorial Hospital is to receive a new hightech blood machine after a health group donated the final £1,000 needed to buy the timesaving piece of equipment.

Andover Heart Support Group donated a £1,000 cheque to the Friends of Andover War Memorial Hospital to help them purchase the analysing equipment – known as an Abbott i-STAT point of testing machine.

The high-tech machinery, which costs more than £11,000, lets health care professionals obtain blood and give results immediately – meaning decisions can be made at the point of consultation.

Once it arrives, the equipment will be used by various units including the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

Chairman of the hospital league of friends Iris Andersen said: “I’m absolutely over the moon.

“This is absolutely tremendous for Andover and the people of Andover.

“It will save people driving all the way to Winchester.

“Thanks to all of those who donated and to Andover Heart Support Group for their £1,000 donation.”

The Andover Heart Support Group was prompted into making the donation after its chairman, Ray Turner, read an article appealing for support in the Andover Advertiser.

The group, who meet twice a week at the hospital to exercise and socialise, had saved the money to purchase a defibrillator to replace their ageing machine.

However, with the hospital purchasing their own defibrillators, the group decided to donate the money towards a new blood machine instead.

Mr Turner, who has been chairman for the past four years, said: “We had the money and no longer needed it for its original purpose so we decided to make good use of it.

“We are very pleased that they (the Friends) have been able to buy the equipment.

“We are all Andoverians so it is very satisfying know it will benefit people in the town.”