BASINGSTOKE hospital has become only the second hospital in the country to receive a state of the art breast cancer monitor.

The Sysmex Sentimag breast cancer monitor will hugely improve a patient’s experience when they have to undergo treatment or of surgery for the condition.

This revolutionary equipment was presented to the hospital on November 5 by representatives of the Hampshire Medical Fund, the Hampshire Country and Garden Festival and its sponsors Childs Farm children’s skincare brand, NFU Mutual and Candover Clinic.

The monitor was purchased with funds raised by The Hampshire Country and Garden Festival held at Bere Mill in June.

Due to the success of the festival a total of £55,000 was raised through sponsorships, donations and support from people who attended the event.

This total exceeded expectations and enabled two machines to be bought: one for Basingstoke hospital and another for the Royal Hampshire Hospital in Winchester which was presented in October.

The monitors are expected to benefit more than 200 patients a year at each location.

Annabel Humphrey, committee member for the Hampshire Country and Garden Festival said: “We’re delighted that money raised by our show is being put to such a good use by the breast cancer teams at two Hampshire hospitals.

“We’re very thankful to Childs Farm, Candover Clinic and to NFU Mutual, for being key sponsors of our Festival.

“Their generous support meant we could put on a fantastic show this year, with just under 4,000 people enjoying the entertainment, demonstrations and workshops, gift and garden stalls and delicious food and drink.

“We are already planning next year’s event, which will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2020, where we hope to be able raise money to buy more equipment for the Hampshire Medical Fund.”

The Sysmex Sentimag Monitor is an innovation for future breast surgery as it enables intra-operative detection tiny stainless steel grains called Magseeds which are inserted up to 30 days before surgery to help the surgeon locate the breast cancers to be surgically removed.