Bognor Regis nurses receive equipment from bell ringers

The staff on its Leslie Smith ward received the monitor thanks to the town’s handbell ringers and a former patient.

The monitor – costing about £1,450 – is already in daily use. Ward sister Jane Richardson said: “It’s up-to-date, it’s brilliant and it’s user-friendly. We usually use it four or five times a day and it’s in constant use when a patient is seriously ill.”

The monitor checks patients’ blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation level.

It was formally handed over by Brian Knight, the chairman of the hospital’s Friends, who received £1,000 for it from Bognor Regis Handbell Ringers and some £450 from the family of the late Arthur Spray.

Mr Spray was a patient on the ward for about three months early last year. He celebrated his 89th birthday there. His son, Tom, of Lovells Close, Aldwick, said: “My father mentioned raising money for the ward while he was a patient.

“They were very good to him here and the money has come from his family and friends in his memory.”

The 11-strong handbell ringers raised the money from their performances last year.

Secretary Pauline Allsopp said: “The hospital serves the community and it gives us great pleasure and pride to be able to give something tangible and useful which is not provided by the NHS.”

This is the fourth year in a row the ringers have backed the hospital and takes their total donations to £4,265.

Previous items they have been bought included dermatascopes, for detecting skin cancer, and chairs.

The ringers voted to switch to another good cause for 2011. This is the Crossroads care charity which holds a Tuesday club at Holy Cross Church Hall in North Bersted to care for carers.

Booking inquiries for the ringers should be made to Mrs Allsopp on 01243 586838.