Scan figures support Dunstan - doctor

Roxburgh's sole doctor, Eric Wegener, is backing the case for a CT scanner based at Dunstan Hospital, saying "the numbers speak for themselves".

The first in a series of meetings arranged by the company which runs Dunstan Hospital, Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL), to garner support for its case, will be held in Cromwell tonight.

A recent National Health Board report recommended there should be a CT scanner for inland Otago, based at the Lakes District Hospital in Frankton, but COHSL has been lobbying for a scanner at Dunstan, at Clyde, for three years.

The Southern District Health Board decided last month the communities should reach consensus on the scanner site, as the equipment would require significant community funding to cover both capital and running costs. Last week, COHSL chairman Russell McGeorge said 1067 Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes residents travelled to Dunedin or Invercargill in 2010 for a publicly-funded CT scan.

Of that number, 315 were from the area served by the Lakes District Hospital and 755 came from the area served by Dunstan, which includes Wanaka.

Dr Wegener, who is based at the Roxburgh Medical Centre, which has 1400 registered patients, approached the Otago Daily Times to highlight his views on the scanner issue.

"Because Dunstan orders 140 % more scans than does Lakes District Hospital and because these scans will be used for the local population, rather than for a tourist and international population, I propose that common sense dictates that the need is at Dunstan.""It needs to go where it is useful and the most needed and best serves the local population.

I believe the population Dunstan serves is maybe more representative of the local population, whereas Lakes District has more of a transient population and tourist population .'Dr Wegener was disappointed the district health board had left the decision to the communities and said it was unlikely consensus would be reached.

"Given the evidence before it, the DHB should be addressing where it should go. I feel strongly that Dunstan needs a CT scanner and the importance of having a CT scanner cannot be over-emphasised. Dunstan's need is far greater than the Lakes District's."

A scanner at Dunstan would take the pressure off the service provided by Dunedin Hospital and give local patients better access to care and treatment, he said.

The first meeting in the series organised by COHSL to outline its case for a scanner at Dunstan will be held tonight at the Cromwell Presbyterian Church, followed by a similar meeting in the Alexandra Memorial Theatre tomorrow and a third meeting in the Lake Wanaka Centre on Thursday. All meetings start at 7.30pm.

lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz