NURSES were helped through the recent snow by 4x4 heroes - not missing a single home care visit.

Initially, hospital chiefs feared that their community nurses would be unable to visit all but the sickest patients during the December snowfall. 

Emergency contingency plans demanded that the nurses, who provide support for poorly patients at home, would only attend to urgent cases. 

But colleagues came in on their day off to help their patients. 

Kevin McNamara, director of strategy at the GWH trust, told a meeting of hospital directors: “The recent bad weather certainly impacted the teams, because they have to visit individual homes. 

“The original plan was that they would only be able to visit urgent patients on that day. 

“But by the end of the day they managed to do all of their ordinary visits as well, which is a significant achievement. 

“What that relied upon was staff who were off on the day visiting the patients close to their homes.”

He added that the community equipment service only dropped one appointment over the day. The service installs home help kit, such as grab rails and hoists, in people’s homes.

“All of that happened with the great support from Wessex 4x4,” added Mr McNamara.

Volunteers from Wessex 4x4 Response use their own cars to support NHS and emergency staff during poor weather.

The organisation’s Freya Puttock told the BBC last month: “When things do happen we’re all ready to help and support as soon as possible.”