An investment of £25,500 in equipment at Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet will help to protect ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctors and patients from the risk of Covid infection.

The new equipment, called a 'telepack', combines a flexible endoscope with an integral light and camera connected to an HD monitor.

The endoscope can be deployed through a patient's nose or mouth by a clinician in full personal protection equipment at the hospital that was formerly known as Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre.

Once deployed the clinician can withdraw to a safe distance away from potential coughs or sneezes from the patient.

The camera and high definition screen give clinicians a clearer view while wearing protective goggles than they would normally have if they were looking through a regular endoscope with goggles.

As a consequence the equipment is a vital aid to the early and accurate diagnosis of ENT conditions.

As well as protecting both patients and clinicians, the system gives the option of a flexible endoscope delivery via the nose.

This makes the procedure more comfortable as it is less likely to stimulate the gag reflex than an endoscope passed through the mouth.

Jac Ciampolini, medical director at Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet, said: "We are always keen to invest in technology which has a clear benefit to patients, and this is a good example.

"It protects both the patient and the clinician while at the same time helping us to better diagnose."

This latest investment comes hard on the heels of another worth more than £35,000 in an enhancement of digital X-ray at the hospital.

Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet is the first hospital of its kind to be rated as Outstanding across the board by the Care Quality Commission.

The national Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) reported by the Health and Social Care Information Centre recently identified the hospital as top in the country for hip replacements, and in the top five per cent for knee replacements.

Patients can choose to be treated at Practice Plus Group Hospital Shepton Mallet via the NHS, self-pay or private medical insurance.