More than $200,000 has been raised in Central Otago in just four months to fit out the suite to house Dunstan Hospital's new CT scanner.
The machine is being installed next week and should be ready for the first patients by early next month. Central Otago Health Services Ltd runs Dunstan Hospital and its general manager, Karyn Penno, said the scanner suite fit-out fund was only $50,000 short of the total needed - $250,000- and she was confident the target would be reached.
''There's still money coming in and people are still planning fund-raising events, so I anticipate we'll hit that target, which is an enormous effort by a big group of people in a short space of time.''
''It's been a community-wide effort, with the Rotary and Lions clubs joining forces for the monster auctions in February and a host of clubs, societies and individuals doing all sorts of things to raise funds for the scanner.
''It's been incredibly touching to see that support from the community and a very special project to have been part of,'' she said. Ms Penno said the alterations to create a scanner suite were completed on schedule last week.
