THE Friends of Burnhamon-Sea Hospital group has donated nearly £17,000 to buy a new slit lamp for the hospital’s Ophthalmics department.

The equipment - a BI 900 Haag-Streit slit lamp - was presented to staff at Burnham’s War Memorial Hospital on July 17.

It helps diagnose and treat a range of ophthalmic conditions.

A spokesman for The Friends of Burnham Hospital said: “The Friends have spent just under £17,000 to provide the solution by purchasing the BI 900 Haag-Streit slit lamp, which is the very latest technology.

“Haag-Streit slit lamps are integral to the diagnosis and treatment of multiple ophthalmic conditions in clinics all over the UK.

“The BI 900 compliments Haag-Streit’s existing slit lamp imaging products and allows clinical findings to be digitally captured at every step along the patient care pathway.

“Staff at the hospital were using old equipment to treat and diagnose ophthalmic conditions which were not as up to date as Weston and Musgrove Park hospitals.

“The new light will make a real difference to the staff and how they treat patients in the future.

“We are thrilled to have been able to give the department the equipment it so desperately needs.”