All money raised by community goes to scanner appeal, says chairman Robinson
Adam Civico
Fundraisers, businesses and sponsors have been thanked for their efforts in helping the MRI scanner appeal reach a third of its target.
And NHS Shetland chairman Gary Robinson has said that all the money raised goes towards the fund – not for “marketing or fundraising management costs”.
A fundraising manager, Derek Hart, was appointed in October.
Almost £600,000 has been raised towards the £1.65 million total since the appeal was launched 18 months ago. Trustees of the NHS Shetland Endowment Fund have put on record their gratitude for the community effort, including Harriet Middleton and the MRI Maakers who have reached a global audience.
Those behind the campaign say fundraising will continue with “renewed enthusiasm” this year. NHS staff have planned another peerie paddle in June, an MRI music event will take place and a corporate dinner and wellbeing walk are scheduled.
Endowment Fund trustee Mr Robinson said: “The scale of the fundraising required is significant. This is why the endowment committee agreed, from the outset, to fund the marketing costs to get the appeal up and running.
“The next phase was always to bring on board an experienced fundraising manager, who could lead the now incredibly busy campaign, give it their full attention and help us reach our total faster. The money raised by the community for the scanner appeal goes directly to the total and is not paying for any of the
marketing or fundraising management costs.”
NHS Shetland chief executive Michael Dickson, who started his role on Monday, said that since Mr Hart had joined the team the focus had been on embracing the efforts of the community while also looking beyond Shetland.
“Derek’s arrival has meant a more co-ordinated approach to local fundraising (like money boxes) while several applications for funding from outside of Shetland are now also under way. Most notably, Derek is in conversation with the several charitable trusts, foundations and grant awarding bodies about potential contributions.”
Shetland Charitable Trust has faced some criticism for not having devoted funds to the MRI scanner appeal.
Ali Inkster
So who is paying his wages? and could that money not have been donated directly to the scanner appeal helping to reach the target sooner.
But then why the hell are we having to pay for it in the first place?
When it is finally purchased the nhs should be charged for it’s use and the money put to the next piece of equipment that holyrood refuses to pay for.
David Spence
I agree with Ali, in the sense of why are we having to raise the money for this scanner?
Is the NHS so strapped for cash (to contradict myself to a degree, probably having to pay the private sector ridiculous fee’s (more than likely over 80% shear profit)) due to the nhs being forced to out-source their work, we are having to raise the funds by donations and fund raising events?
If the private sector approached you and asked you to donate millions (over and above their greed oriented mindset and over-priced service) towards equipment and or services, would you?
Even if we raise the funds to purchase this scanner, who will pay for the staff and running costs?
In the private sector, it is best they keep you ill (pumping your body full of useless drugs (due to the private sector being a major shareholder within the drugs industry)) as this increases profits and you will never get fully better.
All in all, we have nothing to fear………….except our bank accounts dwindling immensely……or transfer your house for sale at their behest……or take out a bank loan you cannot afford to pay back.
Great days ahead.
Michael Garriock
Every day everybody in the UK pays for the NHS through taxation, if there is a sound case for a Shetland based MRI scanner facility, the NHS should be pressured in to providing one, and the effort being put in to this ‘appeal’, were it directed at bombarding the NHS with demands to honour the terms of the contract they have with the population, would almost certainly go quite some way towards achieving that end.
How many times do the folk behind appeals such as this think they can sucker the public in paying for the same facility twice? It was bad enough the first time round for the CT Scanner, but to come around again a second time now with this, is seriously taking the pith. Especially as it seems its a local NHS driven/led effort rather that a public one.
The Government take the money they take off us to supposedly provide us with the NHS, they need to be forced to provide that service in an adequate manner, or let folk ‘opt out’ of paying NI etc, so that they can choose their own health care provider who will deliver as per contract.