Residents in western Middlesex County will no longer have to travel to London for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton announced on Friday that the province is doling out $800,000 so the Middlesex Hospital Alliance can get the Strathroy region’s first-ever MRI machine.
“[It’s] a game-changer for families,” said McNaughton. “This investment means that patients can focus on their health instead of worrying about travelling out-of-town, while also giving our healthcare workers the tools they need to continue delivering exceptional care.”
The technology is non-invasive and uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take detailed pictures of organs and tissues in the body. MRIs are used to diagnose a variety of health issues including brain injuries, heart disease, and various tumors and cancers.
The alliance, which operates the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital in Strathroy and Four Counties Health Services in Newbury, will purchase the MRI machine, while the province will cover its annual operating cost.
“Today’s announcement for an MRI service at our local hospital will result in local access to what is widely considered the gold standard of diagnostic imaging, as well as reducing wait times for this service across our entire region,” Alliance Board Chair Catherine Osborne said in a statement.
The final cost and a timeline for when the machine will be up and running are under review.
“With a Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital capital re-vitalization project also being planned for the future, it is our responsibility to ensure that the creation of this MRI Suite is cost-conscious and compliments future redevelopment plans,” said Alliance Interim President and CEO Julie McBrien.
The funds announced on Friday are from a more than $20 million commitment from the provincial government to support the operation of 27 new MRI machines in hospitals across Ontario. According to the province, additional MRI services would lead to faster diagnoses, treatment and follow-up care.
