A DONATION for state-of-the-art new equipment has been made to a hospital in Essex. Dr Cho Cho Khin, consultant gastroenterologist, has donated �11,000 to buy specialist equipment for the endoscopy unit at Broomfield Hospital. �7500 was used to buy two pi

A DONATION for state-of-the-art new equipment has been made to a hospital in Essex.

Dr Cho Cho Khin, consultant gastroenterologist, has donated �11,000 to buy specialist equipment for the endoscopy unit at Broomfield Hospital.

�7500 was used to buy two pieces of equipment to monitor patients' blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure and pulse during an endoscopy.

An endoscopy involves looking into an organ of the body with a camera e.g. gastroscopy - the stomach and colonoscopy - the large bowel.

There are three consultant gastroenterologists at the hospital - Dr Cho Cho Khin, Dr Reshma Rakshit and Dr Rakesh Shah.

Together with gut specialist surgeons and nurse endoscopists, they provide an endoscopy service to Mid Essex patients.

Dr Khin said: "I wanted to make this donation for two main reasons. Firstly, it was in memory of my parents - U Yin Whet and Daw Khin Saing - who were married for 58 years when Mr Whet was unexpectedly diagnosed with kidney cancer while on a visit in Chelmsford.

"He donated �3500 to the Kidney Unit Appeal before he died aged 82. Mrs Saing died in Burma in 2004 aged 93. Secondly, it was a gesture of thanks from me after surviving a life-threatening illness last year."

Dr Khin also bought 10 assorted stents at a total cost of �3500. These stents improve the quality of life in patients with narrowing in various parts of the gut due to cancer - in the gullet to improve swallowing, in the stomach to stop vomiting, and in the bowel to facilitate movement.