A hospital charity is one step closer to buying an ultrasound machine thanks to Stevenage Ladies Choir, who held a concert at St Christoper School in Letchworth on Saturday.

The Comet: L-R Teresa Shakespeare-Smith, consultant rheumatologist Dr Thirau Marianayagam, Stevenage Ladies Choir member Ann Courtney and Sharon Pearson. Picture: Courtesy of Teresea Shakespeare-SmithL-R Teresa Shakespeare-Smith, consultant rheumatologist Dr Thirau Marianayagam, Stevenage Ladies Choir member Ann Courtney and Sharon Pearson. Picture: Courtesy of Teresea Shakespeare-Smith (Image: Archant)

Together with a guest choir, the ladies sang at the sold-out show and raised £1,500 for the East and North Herts Hospitals Charity’s rheumatology fund.

The fund to buy an ultrasound machine was set up in 2017 by specialist nurse Sharon Pearson and patient Teresa Shakespeare-Smith, who gave a talk at the concert.

It was explained that having ultrasound immediately to hand enables early diagnosis of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, so treatment can be started swiftly to minimise joint damage.

Teresa helps to co-ordinate the Hertfordshire group of National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society which meets four times a year in Welwyn’s Civic Centre.

For more information visit nras.org.ukgroups, or the Hertfordshire Group National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society Facebook page.