Shipping entrepreneurs fund new MRI scanner

A new MRI scanner has been bought for an Aberdeen hospital thanks to a seven-figure donation from a family of shipping entrepreneurs.

Douglas Craig, chairman of Aberdeen shipping fir, Craig Group, said the donation fulfilled the wishes of his late father

The funds, given by the Craig family and The Craig Group, represents one of the biggest ever single donations to NHS Grampian,

The new scanner, which will be fitted at Woodend Hospital, will directly improve the experience of patients by reducing waiting times at a time of growing demand for scans and reducing waiting times.

Douglas Craig, chairman and managing director of Craig Group, said that the donation helped to fulfil the wishes of his late father David, who died in 2010.

Mr Craig said: “We are pleased that work is already underway to install the scanner, a much-needed additional facility for the local community that will help to speed up the treatment process for patients.

“The donation also reflects one of my late father David Craig’s wishes to contribute towards the work of Dr Metcalfe, a leading heart specialist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and with whom he had close ties.

“Furthermore, we believe it very fitting that the Granite City offers MRI scanning wherever possible because it was in Aberdeen that physicist, Professor John Mallard, played a pivotal role in developing the world’s first whole body MRI scanner.”

News of the donation emerged earlier this year but NHS Grampian confirmed last night that the equipment had now been purchased, with it due to be operatonal early next year.

The board has also recently benefitted from a £10m from The Wood Foundation, set up by oil tycoon Sir Ian Wood, to build a multi-storey car park and bring 1,000 new parking spaces to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary,.

NHS Grampian has also benefitted from an undisclosed donation from businessman Ian Suttie, whose funds contributed to the creation of The Suttie Space, a an art gallery at ARI, which is believed to the first of its kind in the UK.

A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said the “fine detail” of bringing the new scanner to Aberdeen was now being worked out.

She said: “We have purchased the MRI scanner and are working out the fine detail of the installation process with a specialist firm. A contractor is already onsite at Woodend Hospital preparing the area where the scanner will be housed. We are also in the process of recruiting the additional staff required.

“We expect the scanner will be operational by Spring 2016.

“We are extremely grateful to Craig Group and the Craig family for this generous donation, which will benefit people in this region for years to come.”

Douglas Craig, chairman and managing director of Craig Group, said: “We are pleased that work is already underway to install the scanner, a much-needed additional facility for the local community that will help to speed up the treatment process for patients. The donation also reflects one of my late father David Craig’s wishes to contribute towards the work of Dr Metcalfe, a leading heart specialist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and with whom he had close ties.

“Furthermore, we believe it very fitting that the Granite City offers MRI scanning wherever possible because it was in Aberdeen that physicist, Professor John Mallard, played a pivotal role in developing the world’s first whole body MRI scanner.”