EQUIPMENT from the Royal Preston Hospital is still being used in a disaster-torn former Soviet state, years after it should have been abandoned.
Desperate doctors in the Ukraine, which was destroyed by the Chernobyl explosion in 1986, are being forced to use basic equipment donated by the Royal Preston Hospital, such as needles and plastic gloves, over and over again.
Even colostomy bags were being emptied so the next patient could use them.
?Bernard Cocker, who works for the Leyland-based International Aid, said: "The equipment they now have has been of great benefit but I have watched several operations where the surgeon is forced to use the same gloves on different patients."
Bernard added: "There is no doubt the equipment has vastly improved the state of hospitals.
"But a lot still needs to be done."
The Royal Preston Hospital's support was promoted by employee Paul Blackett, who said: "Although things are still bad, they have improved tremendously thanks to the donations."
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