Raigmore demonstrates use of £49,000 portable ultrasound to charities who helped raise the cash

By mike farrell

Published: 07/07/2010

New equipment funded by local charities has been donated to a Highland hospital to provide a speedier diagnosis of heart conditions.

The Highland Heartbeat Centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness has been given a new portable ultrasound, known as an echo heart scanner, costing £49,000.

The machine uses sound to take detailed images of the heart to determine what conditions it is suffering from.

The Monadhliath Heartbeat Challenge raised £27,000 towards the purchase of the scanner, while the remaining £22,000 was donated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Organisers of the annual charity biathlon and BHF representatives met with consultant cardiologist Dr Stephen Cross at the hospital yesterday to see how the equipment was being put to use.

Dr Cross said: “I think the scanner will definitely be a big help to patients with heart conditions.

“We have already seen the benefits of it so far and we will hopefully be able to continue this good work through the challenge with the help of BHF to bring further equipment to the centre.”