A COMMUNITY group has donated some vital medical equipment to a care centre in Malmesbury.

Malmesbury League of Friends recently purchased two important items to help with the growing number of patients with asthma and blood pressure problems in the area.

The group was set up to provide funds to help local people with specific medical needs, which are not available from other sources.

It also purchases much-needed equipment for staff and patients at the local care centre as well as The Tolsey Surgery in Sherston and Athelstan House Care Home. 

This time the league wanted to offer something to the Malmesbury Primary Care Centre - which is situated in Priory Way, Burton Hill, Malmesbury - which provides a range of medical services for residents such as minor surgery, a first contact physiotherapy service and community midwifery. 

Malmesbury League of Friends chairman David Hide recently presented Dr Tom Estcourt with a SpiroConnect Spirometry System and Welch Allyn blood pressure monitor.  

The SpiroConnect Spirometry System helps diagnose asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and can also be used to monitor lung conditions.

In addition, the Welch Allyn blood pressure monitor will be offered to patients with suspected hypertension and facilitates the recording of blood pressure readings taken at regular intervals.

This machine will enable the blood pressure of patients to be measured over a 24-hour period and the data can then be downloaded at the surgery which will mean that patients will no longer have to travel to hospital in either Bath or Swindon.

Dr Tom Estcourt said: “We have a growing number of patients with asthma and blood pressure problems, so these small machines will undoubtedly help us to give our patients a better service. 

"We are extremely grateful to The Malmesbury League of Friends for this very generous donation.”

David Hide said: “We were, once again, pleased to have purchased these items of equipment for the Malmesbury Primary Care Centre.”