A CHARITY dedicated to supporting the town’s hospital has stepped up its financial support in the past year.

The annual meeting of Kidderminster Hospitals League of Friends next week will hear it has so far spent £148,000 on equipment for the Bewdley Road site this year.

This has involved items for a wide range of departments, including Wyre Forest Community Ward, urology, audiology and the new simulation training unit.

The figure is treble the amount spent at the hospital last year.

Since it was formed in 1959, the League of Friends has ploughed more than £4million into the hospital.

Chairman David Wase said: “Our efforts are made possible by the generosity of Wyre Forest people who dig deep to back us and their local hospital.

“And we also have to thank our wonderful volunteers whose commitment, dedication and hard work enable us to be so successful.”

The Friends raises funds with its hospital coffee shop, Swan Centre charity shop and through legacies and donations.

Anyone can attend its AGM, which will be held at the Education Centre at the hospital’s treatment centre, on Wednesday, August 28 at 8pm.

Guest speaker will be surgeon Vincent Koo who will talk about the development of Kidderminster’s urology services which have been substantially supported by the League of Friends.