Staff at a hospital department have said they are "very pleased" after receiving a new machine for their unit.

The ultrasound machine, which scans patients’ veins, has been donated to the renal unit of Northwick Park hospital, in Watford Road.

The busy unit wanted the equipment, which has recently just come on the market, to cope with the high number of patients – but were put off by the high cost.

However a Harrow family came to the rescue after offering to donate the money to pay for it.

Donors Pradeep Shah, who has been a patient at the unit for the past ten years, and his son Priyal contacted the Harrow Times about the presentation, which took place in the hospital on Tuesday evening.

Mr Shah and his family decided to make the donation as he felt it was time for him to repay the hospital for all the treatment he has received whilst in their care.

He said: “We should all be doing this kind of charity work to repay the community debt, and this is just what our family has tried to do.”

The event was attended by patients, staff and special guests, including the Mayor of Harrow Ajay Maru.

A spokesman for the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust thanked the family for the donation, saying: “Thank you for the generous donation, which will benefit our patients with renal disease.

"We have purchased an ultrasound device that enables the identification of patients who might benefit from a natural form of vascular access for their dialysis treatment.”