Redcliffe Hospital to be Equipped with State of the Art MRI Machine

Residents in the North Lakes region will now be able to access lifesaving scans for cancer, stroke, heart and other medical conditions with the announcement of a new MRI machine and licence for Redcliffe Hospital.

A MRI is a commonly used medical scan which gives a detailed view of the soft tissues of the body such as muscles, ligaments, brain tissue, discs and blood vessels. It is used by doctors to diagnose and monitor a number of different medical conditions including cancer and trauma or sporting injuries.

The MRI licence is expected to benefit the many Australians living in the region through a Medicare rebate and provide an estimated 5,900 services a year – saving lives and reducing the costs for patients.

Federal Member for Petrie, Luke Howarth MP said this announcement is a big win for locals.

“The Federal Government has delivered the licence and patients could receive the Medicare-covered MRI services,” Mr Howarth said.

“Having the MRI machine located in the hospital will free up frontline services, such as nurses and ambulance staff who are required to accompany patients to the MRI which is currently available off-site,” Mr Howarth said.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the Federal Government is helping Australians stay healthy and keeping down the cost of healthcare for families.

“Our plan for a strong economy means we continue to deliver record funding for essential services such as Medicare, public hospitals and life-saving medicines,” Minister Hunt said.

The State Government have announced a $10 million investment in an MRI Machine at Redcliffe Hospital. mi Steven Miles MP, Minister for Health, said the MRI will receive a full Medicare-eligible licence.

“A licence makes the running of an MRI machine at Redcliffe Hospital significantly more affordable. Without a licence, today’s announcement would not have been possible.”

“Patients at Redcliffe Hospital will now be able to access vital MRI scans,” Mrs Palaszczuk said.

“A new machine at the hospital, means patients can get the care they need close to home.”

Yvette D’Ath MP, State Member for Redcliffe said Redcliffe Hospital experiences increasing demand following population growth across the region.

“Our local area is booming, and we have an ageing population. Having an MRI machine at Redcliffe Hospital will make the world of difference to people in our community,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The upgrade will include expanding the current Medical Imaging Department to enable the installation of the MRI machine.

“Medical imaging machines like MRIs require purpose-built infrastructure to operate safely.’