FRIENDS of Savernake Hospital and the community have revealed that £40,000 worth of grants have been donated by the group in 2017, an impressive £12,000 more than last year.

GP surgeries across Pewsey and Marlborough benefitted from a range of grants which included money to install new automatic surgery doors, ECG and INR machines and blood monitoring equipment.

Janet Louth, chairman, said: “The Friends see it as their responsibility to support our local GPs where we can, as this in turn will ensure continuity of healthcare for the local community.

“On behalf of the Friends’ committee I would like to say thank you to the community for your loyal support. Long may it continue.

“Wishing you a happy Christmas.”

The Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community charity was set up in 1958 to originally provide support to Savernake Hospital and the Children’s Hospital. Now, with only the Savernake Hospital remaining, the group also provides cash injections for a range of community projects.

Other community projects supported in 2017 include a £4,000 donation to buy new equipment for sensory rooms in the new St Mary’s primary school and £4,250 for the Arts Together wellbeing service in Marlborough.