A £53,000 mobile x-ray unit arrived at Epsom Hospital last week thanks to a 72-mile sponsored walk by ambulance staff and months of fundraising.

Calling themselves MEDICS 4 Charity the 17-strong team from the South East Coast Ambulance Service raised £7,000 toward the cost of the machine after a 4 day sponsored walk around the cost of the Isle of Wight last summer.

Three of the fundraisers, Mike Wigley, Gary Carey and Mark Buckton, presented the cheque last week to Bess Harding, founder of the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, which donated the remaining £46,000.

The mobile unit will allow doctors and radiographers to assess patients at their bedside without having to be moved.

Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins said: “Once again, Epsom Medical Equipment Fund has raised a huge amount of money for our hospital. Their commitment to us, coupled with the efforts of SECamb staff, is a wonderful boost for our patients and staff, and I would like to say a huge thank you to them.”

Senior radiographer Philip Warren said: “The new mobile x-ray unit is a vital piece of equipment for us and our patients, giving us the ability to x-ray patients no matter where they are in the hospital, and even if they’re not mobile enough to come to the x-ray department. We are all so incredibly grateful to all those involved.”

For more information on the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund visit emef.org.uk or call Bess on 020 8337 8181.