Day: 26 September 2025

Epsom Medical Equipment Fund donates life-saving equipment worth over £148,000 to Epsom Hospital, aided by snooker legend Jimmy White at the Epsom Club on Wednesday, 24th September.

The Local charity, run by Bess Harding MBE, continues vital support for hospital services with major donations including 29 defibrillators, specialist laser equipment, and an advanced eye camera

Life-Saving Defibrillators Replace Ageing Equipment

Following an urgent request from the hospital’s RESUS team, EMEF has purchased 29 new defibrillators at a cost of £44,000 to replace equipment that had reached the end of its useful life. The new AED 3 BLS devices have been strategically placed throughout the hospital in A&E, clinics, and outpatient areas, ensuring life-saving equipment is readily available where needed most.

The presentation of the defibrillators took place at Epsom Club, hosted by Darren Hull, with snooker champion Jimmy White taking time from his busy schedule to present the equipment to Chris Rivers, Estates Director at Epsom General Hospital.

Memorial Donation Enhances Ear Surgery Capabilities

In August 2025, EMEF acquired a £40,000 specialist laser for day surgery procedures on delicate and complex areas of the ear. The equipment has been donated to Epsom General Hospital in memory of Jimmy Hendry, a highly regarded physiotherapist at the hospital who recently passed away. Mr Hendry was known for his innovative approach to patient care, notably inventing the “Hendry Hand” device for wrist injury treatment, which reduces patient discomfort during treatment.

This donation means patients can now receive specialist ear surgery locally without needing to travel to St. George’s Hospital.

Advanced Eye Care Technology Prevents Blindness

EMEF has also funded a specialised eye camera costing £64,000 for the Epsom Eye Unit. The sophisticated equipment enables consultants to capture detailed photographs during examinations, which can be studied independently or collaboratively with colleagues to determine optimal treatment pathways and help prevent blindness.

Community Support Strengthens Fund

The charity has received valuable support from the Ashley Centre, which provided accommodation when EMEF lost its room at the hospital. The centre’s Kids Club has donated money to the fund, and EMEF continues to hold carol singing events at the centre.

Professional Endorsements

Paul Day, Deputy Resuscitation Manager at Epsom Hospital’s Resuscitation Service, commented: “We are delighted to accept this incredibly generous donation of AEDs from the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund. These defibrillators are used in public areas such as waiting rooms and outpatient clinics, and are also mounted on the walls of our corridors. They replace older models, upgrading the existing equipment on the Epsom site.”

Chris Rivers, Director of Estates, stated: “The NHS provides essential equipment for patient care, but charities like EMEF can go further by funding upgrades, improvements, and additional items that enhance safety and patient experience. Thanks to their generosity, we can now offer state-of-the-art AEDs that are intuitive, lightweight, and easy for both the public and healthcare professionals to use. We would like to thank EMEF, particularly Bess Harding and all her supporters, for their hard work in raising funds for this life-saving equipment.”

Rob Chave, Territory Manager for Hospital South London & South East England at ZOLL Medical UK, added: “The AED 3 BLS is a device specifically designed by ZOLL to suit both hospital and community settings. The AED features a dashboard for both skilled rescuers and lay responders, and can be customised to suit any clinician’s preferences. Every cardiac arrest demands high-quality CPR compressions, so ZOLL’s intuitive dashboard provides real-time feedback on depth and rate, along with verbal prompts during resuscitation. We are very proud to partner with Epsom Medical Equipment Fund to renew these AEDs, ensuring the trust has life-saving equipment for the next ten years.”

If you like to donate to EMEF CLICK HERE