St. Thomas and Elgin County residents will no longer have to travel to London or Woodstock to have an MRI.
Elgin Middlesex London MPP Jeff Yurek announced on Thursday the province will fund the purchase of the new medical imaging device for the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital.
“I am thrilled that our renowned local hospital will finally be able to have this technology onsite,” said Yurek. “This new investment brings MRI services home to our community, making it easier for patients to receive the care they need without travel or delay.”
The cost of the new machine is expected to be approximately $2.5 million. Money for its purchase was included in the Ontario government's 2021 budget.
Hospital President and CEO Karen Davies called the addition of an MRI machine a "significant investment" in the future of health care for residents of St. Thomas and Elgin County.
"The MRI will ensure that our patients have access to advanced testing to diagnose disease and injury, reducing the need for patients to travel outside of the community,” said Davies.
She anticipates the MRI will be up and running at the hospital within a year.
According to the province, demand for MRI services in Ontario have increased dramatically over the last ten years. In 2014, 54 per cent of patients awaiting a scan saw the task completed within target wait times. Last year, that figure dropped to just 39 per cent.
