Crossword Genius

Hospital performs miracles occasionally with equipment (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

materials

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'hospital performs' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'miracles occasionally with equipment' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'equipment' becomes 'mater' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
The alternating letters of 'miracles' are 'ials'.
'ials' put after 'mater' is 'MATERIALS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for materials that I've seen before include "textiles" , "See 10" , "Items needed to tackle a job" , "Substances that go into the making something" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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