MELKSHAM’S Freemasons have donated a vital piece of equipment to the town’s leg club, to show their support to the NHS.
In the week that marked the NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day (5th July), the group from Chaloner Lodge in Church Street, handed over a Doppler machine – a portable ultrasound machine that helps check the blood flow through a person’s blood vessels.
The machine will be used by clinicians at the leg club – which meets weekly at Spencer Sports and Social Club for people needing treatment for leg ulcers – to help diagnose arterial disease.
Speaking at the presentation, member of the Freemasons, John Fisher, said, “On behalf of Chaloner Lodge and as a Melksham Freemason, I am very proud to be making this presentation.
“We were suddenly at war with a ruthless, invisible enemy and on the frontline were our doctors, nurses and paramedics, plus platoons of critical workers keeping our shops open and stocked, our streets safe and our essential services running.
“Now we have the chance to show or gratitude to all NHS and frontline staff with an annual day of thanks, and remembrance of those who lost their lives because of this dreadful virus.
“The NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day took place on Monday (5th July) and this presentation today is in celebration of that day.
“As Wiltshire Freemasons we are proud of you all and offer our appreciation of everything NHS staff and all key workers do for us and our country.
“I now have much pleasure in handing over this portable Doppler machine to you, which I understand will help with diagnosis and make some of your work easier.”
Clinical lead nurse, Tina Symons, told Melksham News, “A big thank you to the Freemasons, this will help patients of Bradford on Avon & Melksham Health Partnership, Giffords Surgery and Spa Medical Practice.
“We see on average 90 patients a week at the leg club for chronic leg ulcers on their lower limbs. And without this vital piece of equipment, some patients would be at risk of having arterial disease going un-diagnosed. This Doppler machine will allow is to optimise care for all our patients and look after them.”
Picture: The Freemasons present a new Doppler machine to Melksham’s leg club.
