A hospital group held a party to celebrate raising more than £90,000 to buy new patient equipment.

The League of Friends of Northwick Park Hospital has donated the money to pay for a sensory room, a hydrotherapy pool and gym equipment.

The group has been supporting and donating money and equipment to the hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, since it opened its first shop in 1974.

Derek Jones, chairman of the charity, became involved with the League of Friends after having major surgery at the hospital.

He said: "The people who have helped to raise the money to do it, I am proud of these people. They are excellent.

"This year our premier project is the £31,000 developments to the elderly care ward."

One major addition to the ward is a sensory room, which encourages movement and helps patients improve their communication skills.

Users often have dementia and are stimulated both psychologically and physiologically by the equipment in the room.

It is not designed to encourage people to stay in hospital longer but to make their stay more comfortable.

Tony Ellison, from SpaceKraft which helped provide sensory equipment, said: "We really thank the League of Friends, without them this wouldn't be possible. This is for our patients as studies show it lowers the length of stay."

The League of Friends has no administrative costs nor wages to pay, so all of the money they make goes into contributing towards different programmes.

Christine Heels, secretary of the League of Friends, finds out what projects are needed based on what the NHS cannot afford.

She appealed for even more helpers than their current crop of 40.

Ms Heels said: "It is very little commitment that makes a huge difference. They only have to spend a couple of hours here a week."

"A lot of our volunteers are elderly, we need some youngsters with modern skills."