Hindu Society helps fund new bone scanner for St George’s Hub
Local people can now benefit from scans to measure their bone density and strength closer to home, thanks to a new DEXA scanner which has been unveiled at St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch.
The scanner was generously part funded by the Hindu Society of Havering, which raised £60,000 through a range of community initiatives including functions, festivals and general donations. The remainder of the £111,000 cost was provided by the King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity.
It’s our Trust’s first scanner of this type in the community, with one also situated at Queen’s Hospital. It will help improve early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as osteoporosis for local residents, without the need for them to come into hospital.
An official opening event was held on Tuesday 24 March, bringing together healthcare leaders, charity representatives, the Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, and members of the society, who were invited to see the scanner and hear directly from clinical staff about its impact.
Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, said:
We’re hugely grateful for this invaluable gift which will help us to keep older residents well for longer.
It’s important we do everything we can to support local people to get the care they need closer to home and away from hospital. Queen’s Hospital is busy and we care for lots of sick people there, it’s not the best place to be, especially for older people. Lots of the care we provide can be delivered in buildings like this community diagnostic centre and this is a great example of that.
The Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, added:
I’m delighted to be here. Having lost my mum and dad over the last couple of years and experienced Queen’s corridors, I can appreciate how needed this is. This is the way forward.
For you to come together as a group and recognise what was needed – you’ve played an ace card for our communities and I’m so proud as mayor to have you in my community.
Barbara Kasumu, Interim CEO of King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity, said:
We are incredibly proud to have funded this vital piece of equipment alongside the Hindu Cultural Society of Havering, whose generosity has made a real difference to local patients.
Our focus is always on enhancing care and improving patient experience, and this DEXA scanner is a fantastic example of how charitable funding can directly benefit our communities.