Published Wednesday, 05 September, 2007 at 11:24 AM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Robertson steps up call for Rocky MRI scanner
Health Minister Stephen Robertson today renewed his call for the Federal Government to grant a full-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) licence for Rockhampton.
Mr Robertson told State Parliament public and private patients in Rockhampton had been forced to share a mobile MRI scanner with Bundaberg and Gladstone since August 2005.
“This is unacceptable in a modern health system,” he said.
“A Commonwealth licence is required for MRI services to be bulk-billed through Medicare, but for more than two years they’ve refused to grant one for Rockhampton.
“Twice I have written to Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott to press Rockhampton’s case for a full-time licence and twice he has refused.
“While Mr Abbott continues to drag his feet on this issue he is putting patients at risk.”
Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said the number of people referred for an MRI scan in Rockhampton has continually increased over the years.
“Last year there were nearly 700 referrals at Rockhampton Hospital, up from 428 in 2004-05,” Mr Hoolihan said.
“Rockhampton Hospital acts as a major referral centre and trauma hospital for 200,000 Central Queenslanders so access to an MRI all day, everyday, is imperative.
“It is estimated up to 200 public patients are forced to travel as far as Brisbane for a scan or wait for up to two weeks for the mobile MRI scanner to return to Rockhampton.”
Mr Robertson said MRI scans are particularly important for vascular and orthopaedic diagnosis because they produce a more detailed image than CT scans or standard x-rays.
“The higher quality image allows for better diagnosis, better treatment and a much better outcome for patients,” he said.
5 September, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680
Mr Robertson told State Parliament public and private patients in Rockhampton had been forced to share a mobile MRI scanner with Bundaberg and Gladstone since August 2005.
“This is unacceptable in a modern health system,” he said.
“A Commonwealth licence is required for MRI services to be bulk-billed through Medicare, but for more than two years they’ve refused to grant one for Rockhampton.
“Twice I have written to Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott to press Rockhampton’s case for a full-time licence and twice he has refused.
“While Mr Abbott continues to drag his feet on this issue he is putting patients at risk.”
Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said the number of people referred for an MRI scan in Rockhampton has continually increased over the years.
“Last year there were nearly 700 referrals at Rockhampton Hospital, up from 428 in 2004-05,” Mr Hoolihan said.
“Rockhampton Hospital acts as a major referral centre and trauma hospital for 200,000 Central Queenslanders so access to an MRI all day, everyday, is imperative.
“It is estimated up to 200 public patients are forced to travel as far as Brisbane for a scan or wait for up to two weeks for the mobile MRI scanner to return to Rockhampton.”
Mr Robertson said MRI scans are particularly important for vascular and orthopaedic diagnosis because they produce a more detailed image than CT scans or standard x-rays.
“The higher quality image allows for better diagnosis, better treatment and a much better outcome for patients,” he said.
5 September, 2007
MEDIA: MATTHEW JUTSUM 3225 2680