The Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust (TST) was pleased to be able to contribute $5,000 towards the purchase of an echocardiogram (heart scanner) for the Taupō Hospital.

The Taupō Hospital and Health Society (THHS) recently completed a significant fundraising programme to raise the $350,000 required for the equipment, and the new Cardiac Echo Service was officially opened in February.

Those present at the opening included Mayor David Trewavas; Lakes District Health Board (DHB) Chair, Dr Jim Mather; Lakes DHB CEO, Nick Saville-Wood; THHS Chairperson, Lil Hancock; local member, Christine Rankin; DHB staff; David Rameka from Taupō District Council; and TST General Manager Greg Stebbing.

Lakes DHB Chair Dr Jim Mather expressed huge thanks to THHS at the opening, noting that the DHB is very grateful to have had such strong support from the Society.

“We are amazed at the latest efforts of the Society and its history of previous fundraising which has benefitted Taupō Hospital across a range of projects, including the redevelopment of Taupō Hospital,” he said.

Taupō Mayor David Trewavas noted the latest fundraising effort by the THHS represented a significant effort with tremendous buy-in from everyone across the district.

The new service to the Taupō community started in late January 2020. The unit was received from the supplier in late December 2019, with the system configured to enable the images to be sent to Rotorua, to enable reviewing and reporting on echo ultrasounds by cardiology staff in Rotorua.

Cardiac ultrasound is used across the entire spectrum of patient care from in-utero to the elderly patient.  The number of patients in Taupō/Turangi area needing an echocardiogram has increased by approximately 35 per cent in the past five years and up until January, those patients have had to travel to Rotorua Hospital for the examination.

Pictured left to right:

  • Lil Hancock – Chairperson, Taupō Hospital & Health Society
  • David Trewavas – Mayor, Taupō District Council
  • Dr Jim Mather – Chair, Lakes DHB
  • Nick Saville-Wood – CEO, Lakes DHB