A CHARITY that has raised huge amounts of money over the past 30 years to help equip a GP surgery in Chard is set to be wound up.

The Friends of Springmead Surgery (FOSS) is holding a special general meeting on Wednesday, July 6, at 2pm, at the surgery, in Summerfield Road.

All patients are welcome to attend the meeting, which has a single item on the agenda - to discontinue FOSS.

FOSS was set up as a fundraising charity in 1991 at a time when surgeries were unable to handle money donated by grateful patients.

Over the years many people donated to FOSS and events were held to bring in money to be spent on the practice.

Secretary Rosemary Davis, who has been on the committee for several years, said: "FOSS carried out fundraising to but equipment and raised an incredible amount of money over the years."

Along with many other charities, FOSS experienced issues during the Covid pandemic.

And a change to the rules means that surgeries can now accept money directly.

The charity's bank recently released money from its account to enable Springmead Surgery to pay for equipment it had already purchased.

Donations may now be received directly at the surgery to be used for the benefit of patients.