Budleigh Salterton Medical Centre has been able to buy some new equipment, thanks to donations from residents of the town and surrounding areas.

Staff and patients will benefit from the volunteer trustees, who manage donations and legacies to the health centre charity, who have recently gifted a third adjustable examination couch.

The couch, which cost £2706, is specifically made for general practice examinations and has an adjustable height making it easier for patients getting onto the couch regardless of their mobility.

The Budleigh Salterton Health Centre Charity chairman Philip Griffin said: “We have pledged to eventually replace all five of the old couches in the surgery, as well as other equipment.

“Recently we have funded a new wheelchair for use by patients with mobility issues who need assistance to and from the surgery from their transport.

“Over the years, the charity has helped to pay for thousands of pounds worth of equipment above and beyond what is often found in GP surgeries.

“We aim to support requests from the medical staff to fund high quality equipment which enables them to provide excellent care for their patients – sometimes avoiding patients having to trek to places such as the Royal Devon University Hospital in Exeter for tests and treatment.”

Examples of the equipment the charity has supported include:

Funding towards the installation of an automatic healthcare monitor which can be used by patients to measure their blood pressure, height, weight and BMI without the need of a scheduled appointment.

Surgical equipment used by the doctors for minor surgery at Seachange avoiding the patient being referred to secondary care.

More recently the charity has also gifted an additional INR blood testing machine; and a Doppler Audio Machine which is used to check the feet of diabetic patients.

In 2018 the charity funded the equipment for the new clinical room at Seachange, which is located at the former hospital.