A nippy new piece of equipment has been installed at Epsom General Hospital to help very ill patients with life threatening breathing problems.

New Non-Invasive ventilators (Nippy), costing £12,500, were handed over to the hospital by representatives from the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund.

They will be used to assist patients with severe breathing difficulties by blowing air through a tight-fitting face mask, assisting each breath they take.

The new ventilators will, in some cases, make it unnecessary to send patients into intensive care.

Betsie and Eric Tenney presented the equipment, on behalf of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, to Dr Shakil Rahman, consultant respiratory physician at Epsom General Hospital and Richard Stacey, senior physiotherapist, Central Surrey Health.

The money came from a bequest from their friend, Jean Bambury, and from donations received in memory of June Gee, a former Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell.