SAVING NHS TRUST OVER £1m A YEAR
Over a year ago a reader contacted Newton News Editor Syd Howarth with alarming information on the finance deal providing MRI scanning equipment to Darlington Memorial Hospital. Further investigation showed a Private Finance Company, owned the scanner and the hospital were paying over a £1 million a year for its use. The scanner cost less than £800,000 and it has been in place for 18 years. Syd, an Aycliffe Rotarian, was aware of the successful campaign led by Middlesbrough Rotary Club raising £1 million by public appeal recently for a new scanner in 10 months! Syd thought we should be doing the same in Darlington, putting the million pounds a year saved to better use. It could fund 40 extra nurses! He spoke to Darlington Rotary Club, well known for their community involvement, who saw the viability of the project and Alasdair MacConachie OBE, a member of the club and Director of Vauxhall dealership Sherwoods of Darlington, took the lead. Talks were held with the NHS Trust who agreed it was the way forward and this week the appeal was launched for two state-of-the-art scanners costing £2.5 million which will put Darlington top of the league in providing new ultramodern, wide bore scanners. The benefits in cost saving
to the Trust and efficiency in treatment for patients is enormous. What we need now is the support of everyone in the Darlington, Durham and Bishop Auckland Hospital areas to support the appeal by raising cash, leaving legacies, and making individual contributions. This is for the benefit of everyone, as you never know when you might need the use of an MRI scanner to diagnose your illness. Darlington Rotary Club is spearheading the appeal which was launched on 7th February at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Please support the campaign.
If you would like to make a donation to our MRI appeal or get involved: Visit the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Charity ‘justgiving’ website at: https://www.justgiving.com/cddft • Send a cheque to: Cashiers, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, DL3 6HX. Please make cheques payable to: Co Durham & Darlington NHS FT Charity. Pick up a donation envelope with more information, from one of our waiting areas or wards. Text SCAN02 £10 to 70070 to donate to CDDFT. To discuss fundraising and more information, ring 01325 743786 or email: cddft.charity@nhs.net • Follow us on twitter: @CDDFTCharity • Find the charity on Facebook
PHOTO:
Left to right at Darlington Rotary Club meeting: Peter Chandler Rotary District Governor, Syd Howarth, Alasdair MacConachie, Dr. Elizabeth Loney, (Darlington NHS Trust), and Chris Wiper President Darlington Rotary Club.
