Doctor raises £30k to fund 'life-saving' hospital kit

Ajay Thomas said the emergency department at Broomfield Hospital faced "significant" demand

A doctor who felt his emergency department needed a second ultrasound scanner raised £30,000 to pay for it.

Ajay Thomas said demand at Broomfield Hospital, in Essex, had risen "significantly" in recent years. The annual number of patients attending its accident and emergency unit had doubled from the 65,269 it saw in 2010.

The emergency medicine consultant took on the three peaks challenge to help fund the life-saving equipment as part of a 14-man team.

"One machine is not enough to deal with the increased demand we are facing," he told BBC News.

The fundraising group completed the three peaks challenge - which involved climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales - in 35 hours

Dr Thomas said the department was now seeing 400 patients daily but it only had one ultrasound scanner available - and the hospital trust could not fund a second one.

"Having a second piece of this technology would empower the team to improve the quality of care in the time they have," he said.

"We have 25 doctors trained to use it but only one machine. It can help us do potentially life-saving procedures."

'Resilience, commitment and character'

Dr Thomas, who has been at Broomfield for 20 years, raised £30,000 during the 35-hour process of completing the three peaks challenge between 13 to 15 September.

He said the hospital trust had started the process of acquiring the equipment and hoped it would be ready by Christmas.

"Ever since the NHS was founded, there have always been people going above and beyond for patients," the 55-year-old added.

"The challenge was a real test of our resilience, commitment and character.

"I think the NHS is a remarkable organisation which has people from all walks of life doing their best to improve the service."