A massive donation by an Airedale Hospital charity has helped its endoscopy appeal pass the halfway mark.

Airedale New Venture's £10,000 donation has bought enhanced equipment to improve patients’ comfort while undergoing endoscopy procedures.

The hospital's new £2.4 million endoscopy department opened last month, and efforts are being made to raise £60,000 for new equipment.

The money from Airedale New Venture bought three carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflators, which are used to expand patients' bowel walls to enable a better view of the bowel during procedures such as colonoscopies.

Julie Blackburn, sister on the endoscopy unit at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Using CO2 is much more comfortable for patients and can often mean that their recovery time is quicker too.

“The generous donation of three CO2 insufflators means that we have one for each of our three procedure rooms on the new endoscopy unit at Airedale Hospital so that we can offer a more comfortable experience to all patients requiring a colonoscopy.”