Ultrasound machine saves patients trek to St Richard's Hospital

The 78,000 equipment has been installed in the diagnostic unit of the town's war memorial hospital.

It was bought by the Friends of the hospital from money donated by residents.

The machine is similar to one recently acquired by St Richard's Hospital at Chichester.

Its arrival in Bognor means GPs around the town will be able to refer more patients to the Shripney Road hospital rather than having to make the journey up the A259.

Friends' treasurer Martin Judd said the donation summed up the work of the charity and the support it received from Bognor's residents.

It spent some 50,000 on various pieces of equipment last year. More spending is in place for 2009.

"We have an excellent relationship with the hospital and the staff," he explained.

"This has been reflected in the fact that about 1.5m has been provided by the Friends over the past ten years.

"All this has come from local donations and legacies. We hope to add to that sum in the coming months on other units within the hospital."

But the donations are not all about providing modern medical equipment.

The Friends is equally adept at supplying comforts to make life easier for patients and their visitors as well as the staff.

This can include buying curtains and bathroom fittings.

The Friends received some 90,000 in donations last year.

Legacies provide a substantial part of this sum, though these have been in decline for several years.

Hospital head Gareth Howells, of West Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust, praised the Friends and those who backed the group.

He said: "The generosity of the Friends and its supporters is second to none.

"We are extremely grateful for all they do for the hospital to enable us to continue to provide excellent and ever-expanding local healthcare."

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