ANDOVER War Memorial Hospital has received new equipment thanks to a charitable donation.

Patients are set to benefit from equipment bought using funds donated by The Friends of Andover War Memorial Hospital which itself received a £1,000 donation from the Andover Heart Support Group.

This was put towards buying an I-stat testing machine which is a small, portable unit that enables blood tests to be carried out in a wide range of departments.

Veronica Turner, from the Andover Heart Support Group said: “We’re really pleased to have donated £1,000 to provide such a useful piece of equipment to the hospital.

“We’ve had friends and family who’ve stayed in this hospital and have received such excellent care in the past so we wanted to give something back.”

Sarah McGaughey, clinical matron at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, one of the areas where the machine will be used, said: “We are delighted to have received the I-Stat blood testing machine.

“It is a fantastic facility to have within Andover War Memorial Hospital and will vastly improve patient care and clinical decision making.”

The group also donated money to buy two electronically-controlled ophthalmology (the study of disorders and diseases of the eye) operating chairs for the surgical services unit.

Ron Lockhart, president of the Friends of Andover War Memorial Hospital, said: “We hope that the equipment bought using our donations will help to ensure that people living in the Andover area can access treatment, without having to travel to Basingstoke or Winchester.”