Patients with kidney or bladder problems will not have to travel as far for treatment after £50,000 of equipment was bought for Airedale Hospital.

The removal of stones in the kidney or ureter can now be carried out at hospital in Steeton, near Keighley, using the new urology tools jointly funded by Airedale New Ventures and the hospital’s own charitable fund.

The equipment includes two flexible ureterorenoscopes, which are fine scopes that can be passed into the bladder or kidney under anaesthetic and enable the stones to be seen. Urology consultant at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Philip Koenig said: “We are extremely grateful to the two charities for their donation. This equipment will lead to a better stone clearance rate.”