Saturday 14 December 2024
 2.7°C   SW Light Air
SCT - 2025/26 Small Grant SchemeSCT - 2025/26 Small Grant Scheme
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Coronavirus / Donation offer to MRI scanner appeal generates mixed reactions

THE FUNDRAISING manager of the £1.65 million MRI scanner appeal has expressed his gratitude to the Viking Energy wind farm benefit fund for its offer to donate £200,000 towards the community effort.

The chairman of the campaign group opposing the wind farm has meanwhile condemned the offer as a “PR stunt” to divert attention away from the adverse publicity the construction work attracts.

Shetland Community Benefit Fund Ltd confirmed on Monday that a decision to make the donation has been made “in principle”.

MRI appeal in line to receive £200,000 from wind farm benefit fund

MRI fundraising chief Derek Hart said the offer by the Shetland Community Benefit Fund would be discussed Shetland Health Board endowment committee in the coming days.

“An MRI Scanner for Shetland, especially in light of the pandemic, is more important now than ever. No one wants to travel unless they really have to,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sustainable Shetland chairman Frank Hay said: “If you read the letter from the community benefit fund to the community councils it is clear that the donation is, in effect, an advance payment of money from the amount already set aside by SSE for community benefit.

“It is not new money from Viking/SSE. Indeed, the community benefit fund could have chosen to donate the sum from the £400,000 that they will receive this year.”

The MRI scanner appeal was launched on the weekend of the NHS’ 70th birthday in July 2018.

To date £866,896 has been fundraised, excluding a commitment from the Shetland Charitable Trust to donate £500 000.

One of the biggest donations so far has been £100,000 from seven pelagic fishing families in Whalsay.

Following the charitable trust’s commitment, the first stages of procurement were initiated, Hart said, adding that this would assist in confirming the project’s overall cost.

Become a member of Shetland News

 

Having the MRI scanner at Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick would help to cut out journeys to Aberdeen for over 600 Shetland patients per year who at the moment have no choice but to travel south to have a scan.

MRI scanners can diagnose cancer, strokes, heart conditions and many other conditions.

Become a member of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.

 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
Advertisement 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Have you considered becoming a member of Shetland News?

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please consider paying for membership and get the following features and services: -

  • Remove non-local ads;
  • Bookmark posts to read later;
  • Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
  • Hide membership messages;
  • Comments open for discussion.