THE Friends of Springmead Surgery (FOSS) has recently made another generous donation to Springmead Surgery in Chard.

FOSS purchased two new ambulatory blood pressure monitors to help measure patients’ average blood pressures at home.

Over the years, FOSS has helped with the purchase of many items of medical equipment in the surgery, as well as new chairs in the waiting room, and a new automatic internal door.

Speaking about this most recent purchase, FOSS secretary Rosemary Davis said: “FOSS decided to fund the purchase of two new ambulatory blood pressure monitors (ABPMs), to increase the number of ABPMs in the surgery, as they are always very much in demand from patients, and thus cut down on waiting times for them.”

Martin Daly, Springmead’s practice manager, said: “We were absolutely delighted when FOSS decided to purchase two new ABPMs for the surgery: they monitor blood pressures wherever you are, normally one or two times an hour, to enable clinical staff to work out average blood pressures.

"This tends to be more accurate and reliable than taking one-off blood pressures when patients come into the surgery. We thank FOSS for their generosity.”

FOSS was established in 1992 and over the years has funded more than £50,000 worth of equipment in the surgery.

FOSS has an active membership and any Springmead Surgery patient wishing to get involved in its work should contact the surgery’s Practice Manager, Martin Daly, on 01460 63380 for further information.