2 Jun 2012

Central Otago to get 2 new scanners

4:26 pm on 2 June 2012

The Central Otago mayor says he is pleased with a compromise decision that recommends the region should get two new CT scanners.

After a year of community debate and lobbying, Southern District Health Board officials have recommended scanning machines be bought for both Dunstan Hospital at Clyde and the Lakes hospital in Queenstown.

Dunstan would buy a scanner immediately and Queenstown would buy another in two years.

The DHB would pay operating costs, but the communities would have to raise the $1.4 million purchase cost.

Mayor of Central Otago Tony Lepper says Dunstan's business case was compelling but he is worried the board might not want to run two machines.

Queenstown Lakes mayor Vanessa van Uden says the plan is potentially a good outcome for the whole region.