PATIENTS at Okehampton Community Hospital will benefit from a new occupational therapy kitchen which will help speed up their recovery.

The fully equipped kitchen, worth £10,000, has been paid for by a donation from the Friends of Okehampton Hospital, who held a tea party to celebrate the opening of the kitchen.

John Marvin, chairman of the friends, said: 'Okehampton Community Hospital is such an important asset to the area, and has an excellent record for helping people get out of larger hospitals like the RD&E and continue their recovery closer to home.

'The new kitchen will enable the hospital staff to assess how well people will cope on their own at home, and therefore will mean people can regain their independence when they're ready.'

The money has been raised through the many fundraising activities organised throughout the year, as well as subscriptions from the members of the friends and a number of significant donations.

Wendy Bellamy, matron at Okehampton Hospital, said: 'The new occupational therapy kitchen on our Dartmoor ward will mean patients will have better access to the equipment, speeding up their rehabilitation so they are able to go home earlier.

'We are so grateful to the Friends of Okehampton Hospital for their kind donation and support which has made this possible.'

Over the past year, the friends have also bought a pulse oximeter that checks patients' vital signs, as well as equipment for the ears, nose and therapy clinic and maternity unit, and even a new Christmas tree for the hospital.