"Our existing ultrasound is heavily used and this one will be an improved, more sophisticated model,'' the chairman of Central Otago Health Services Ltd, Russell McGeorge, said yesterday.
The Central Lakes Trust gave the money to the health company, which runs Dunstan, in its latest round of grants.
The scanner was a quick and cost-effective diagnostic tool and buying an upgraded one "has been on our wish list for a while'', Mr McGeorge said.
The grant from the trust would cover around two-thirds or three-quarters of the cost of the new equipment.
It was estimated about 600 patients annually would benefit from the upgraded scanner.
The existing one would be retained and used to train staff and as back-up when the new model was being used in the outpatient unit.
Trust chief executive Paul Allison said the new ultrasound scanner would benefit a cross-section of the population within the area.
The trust gave out a total of $649,074 in 18 grants this monthProject grants and trust initiatives:Central Lakes Arts Support Scheme CLASS programme, $110,000; Central Otago Health Inc ultrasound scanner, $63,300; Central Otago A&P Society 2016 show, $5700; Central Otago Whitewater Inc equipment, $15,000; Mount Aspiring Outdoor Education Centre Trust building repairs, $3700; Queenstown Lakes District Council Events Centre defibrillator, $1635; Sport Otago defibrillators, $2739; University of Otago executive education programme, $65,000; Wanaka Watersports Facility Trust project planning, $40,000. Annual operational grants: Regional Youth Trust initiatives and support programmes, $70,000; Alexandra District Youth Trust, $57,500; Alpine Community Development Trust, $45,000; Alzheimer's Society Otago Inc, $14,000; Brain Injury Association Otago, $10,000, Cancer Society Otago and Southland Division Inc, $25,000; Cromwell Youth Trust, $42,500; Teviot Valley Community Christian Trust, $23,000; Volunteering Otago, $55,000.
