The Provincial government, through Health Minister Sylvia Jones, announced $20 million dollars in funding this week to improve access to diagnostic imaging and reduced waiting times for MRI procedures across Ontario.
“This funding will allow patients, including those in small and rural communties, to receive necessary and critical diagnostic imaging closer to home.
Locally it means $2 million dollars of funding for Perth-Wellington confirms MPP for the Region Matthew Rae.
North Wellington Healthcare and the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance are set to receive $200,200 this year and $800,800 next.
Karl Ellis, President & CEO of the Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance says they plan to locate the MRI at the Royal Oaks Health & Wellness Centre across the road from the hospital in Wingham. There will also be one at the Palmerston & District Hospital.
Current health data indicates that less than 40 percent of patients set to have MRI’s have them done during the target time, with aims to drop the average wait time from 77 days to 28 days.
