MORE than 4,000 items of medical equipment from the former Princess Margaret Hospital have been delivered to a small town in Belarus.

The items, which were surplus to requirements following the move to the Great Western Hospital, was donated to the Zaslowya charity at the start of the year.

And last week, the haul of items, which included a pair of electro cardiogram machines, four nebulisers and two patient monitors as well as dressings and needles, were delivered to the town of Zaslowya.

Masterminding the plan was Swindon businessman Mark Gillingham, 52, who returned from Zaslowya last week.

He said: "The equipment was very well received by staff working at Zaslowya Hospital. They were like children with new toys and they were really grateful.

"Zaslowya Hospital has a real need for medical equipment, because the things they have to work with at the moment is really pretty basic. Although the stuff we have given them is considered out of date for our hospital in Swindon, it has been welcomed with open arms over there."

Mark was accompanied on his week-long trip by Stephanie Taylor, a rehabilitation nurse who works at the Great Western Hospital, to assist staff in the use of the equipment.

Mark explained that he first became involved in supporting the town as part of a church project. And for the last decade, he has strengthened links with the town, organising numerous exchange trips and fundraising events.

"People ask me why Zaslowya, and I say why not. We are a small charity and we don't have the resources to help the whole of Belarus, but doing what we do is better than nothing."

The Zaslowya Project helps children living in poverty living in the former Soviet state of Belarus who suffered as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.