THE mayor of Ludlow has visited the town's hospital to see vital equipment purchased by The League of Friends.

In the minor injuries unit, which was totally refitted by the league four years ago at a cost of £6,000, mayor Councillor Paul Draper tried a new treatment chair for size.

Provided by the league at a cost of almost £2,000 the chair presents the patient for treatment of arm and leg injuries at the most convenient and comfortable position.

The latest acquisition is the Lifepak 15 monitoring equipment, costing £11,000.

Last Thursday this machine saved a patient's life. This led Peter Corfield, chairman of the league, to tell the mayor that: "This machine has already paid for itself."

The machine monitors cardiac and respiratory rhythms as well as blood pressure, oxygen saturation and ECG.

The monitoring for critically ill patients includes cardiac, sepsis, stroke, respiratory, and neurological conditions which are frequently presented to the minor injuries unit.

The unit also has an intelligent defibrillator which automatically applies appropriate cardiac shocking if heart and respiratory rhythms begin to deteriorate.

The machine also provides printed test evidence which can accompany a patient to a place of definitive emergency care.

The mayor was also shown the renal dialysis unit and the six dialysis machines which have been provided by the league at a cost of more than £17,000 each.

The availability of this service saves patients long journeys to Shrewsbury.