NEW kit to treat glaucoma, is now in use at Malmesbury Primary Care Centre, thanks to a £19,000 donation from a charity in the town.

The care centre bought a new Humphrey Visual Field Analyser (HVFA) after receiving the donation from Malmesbury League of Friends (MLOF).

The HVFA is a means of measuring the sensitivity of different parts of the retina to light. It is mainly used for the treatment of glaucoma as it aids diagnosis and helps to ensure existing conditions do not deteriorate.

The HVFA, which replaces the care centre's previous 13-year-old equipment, now treats about 10 patients a month.

Richard Antcliff, the ophthalmology consultant, who uses the HVFA, said: “ We are truly grateful for this most generous donation which will enable us to continue with this important treatment, without which patients would have to travel to Bath or Swindon.”

MLOF chairman Robin Clark said: "This donation is a perfect example of what we were set up for over 40 years ago - to provide essential items of medical equipment for use by local patients which are not available under the NHS."

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