THE League of Friends of Chard District Hospital is helping to bring the hospital into the digital era.

The League has paid for seven new digital televisions as well as a new aerial and the relevant re-wiring.

The group was helped by a generous donation of ￡852 from residents of Essex Close and committee member Norman Phelps who won a TV in a competition and gave it for use in the hospital’s dayroom.

The new TVs were bought from the Co-Op in Chard and AES of Chard completed the installation.

League of Friends chairman Nora Arnold said: “We had heard that a male patient was disappointed that he could not watch sport while in hospital.

“Spurred on by this the League decided to provide new digital TV sets for all wards, both main and side wards, in the hospital.”

Nora added: “The League exists to provide extra facilities that are not supplied by the NHS.

“This way we can increase the comfort and treatment of patients and assist the staff caring for them.

“Patients at Chard Hospital now have television programmes freely available to the team.”

League treasurer Tony Prior added: “We depend on public donations to provide these extra facilities.

“The League promotes an annual draw and makes public collections.

“The League is very grateful for those who kindly nominate us for collections made in memory of loved ones at funerals.”