MRI appeal to ‘scale up’ campaign as fundraiser joins team

THE MRI scanner appeal is set to focus on attracting money from outside of Shetland after recruiting a “professional fundraiser” to its team.

Derek Hart, who has recently worked for national charity Marie Curie, will join the appeal towards the end of October.

His appointment will see the appeal “scale up” the level of fundraising to include allocations from outwith the isles.

“Mr Hart is a professional fundraiser and will assist the appeal at many levels with his depth of experience in raising money for charity projects,” said NHS Shetland’s corporate services manager Carolyn Hand.

“We look forward to welcoming him to the team.”

Hart will be based at the NHS headquarters at Montfield in Lerwick on a full-time basis.

The MRI scanner appeal is currently sitting at around £450,000 thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Shetland public.

The target, which once reached will enable an MRI scanner to be installed at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick, is £1.65 million.

Over 600 patients from Shetland must travel south to have an MRI scan each year, meaning that the health board should save money year-on-year on travel.

The scan can be used to diagnose and monitor a wide variety of conditions.