STAFF at Albany Surgery were delighted to accept invaluable surgical equipment donated by the Newton Abbot Hospital League of Friends, opening the doors of its Minor Surgery unit to nine volunteers in a unique presentation ceremony, writes Alex Doble, Compliance Support Lead at Albany Surgery.

The Newton Abbot Hospital League of Friends is a charitable organisation which carries out important work to raise funds to support the work of the hospital and local healthcare organisations, helping to improve the services offered and improve patient experiences.

Their volunteers also act as a link between patients and these healthcare providers.

Albany Surgery is one of the most recent of these organisations to benefit from the League’s hard work and generosity through the donation of a hyfrecator; an item of surgical equipment used in many routine procedures.

Nine volunteers from the League of Friends were welcomed by Albany’s minor surgery team: GP partner Dr Chay Thomas; new joining GP Dr Ashley Mota, and health care assistant Carrie.

Practice manager Trudi also thanked the team.

After a quick tour of the practice’s minor surgery unit, Dr Mota explained the function of the hyfrecator and how the Albany team will put it to use.

‘A hyfrecator uses low-power electricity to cauterise, and be very specific about stopping bleeding,’ Dr Mota explained.

‘It’s used on skin tags, low-level lesions (such as cysts) and warts. Previously the surgery used a device which was less precise.

‘The new hyfrecator will improve recovery times and procedure safety, and minimise scarring.

‘Overall it will improve patient outcomes,’ he added. It stops bleeding by coagulating the blood (making it clot) with no tissue damage,’ Dr Thomas added.

The hyfrecator, which cost £1,651.15, was described by the Albany team as ‘the Rolls-Royce choice’ for routine surgical equipment.