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June 5th, 2003
MLA Wall Proposes
Plan For New CT Scanner Instead of Used Unit
Swift Current MLA Brad Wall rose in the
Legislature today to ask the Minister of Health to consider a new CT
scanner for the southwest instead of the used CT unit announced in
the provincial budget. In the budget, two communities were slated
to receive new CT units while the Cypress Health Region was
scheduled to receive the used unit.
“Local citizens were grateful for the
announcement in the provincial budget of a permanent CT scanner for
the southwest.” said Wall.
However, Wall noted that there have been
concerns from individuals, including health care professionals,
regarding the government’s intention to provide the portable CT unit
previously shared between Moose Jaw and Swift Current on a permanent
basis in Swift Current while two other communities in the province
receive new CT scanners.
Wall says he has been informed that the demand
for the CT scanner in the southwest exceeds the capacity and
capability of the used CT unit, and that this used unit is prone to
more malfunctions than usual and requires frequent maintenance.
“But we haven’t heard only the concern from
health care professionals in our area. To their credit, they have
also offered a constructive solution that wouldn’t add any costs to
the health care system.” Wall added.
“The used unit has provided excellent training
opportunities for our local diagnostic health care professionals,
but the size of our region and the level of our CT expertise makes a
strong case for a newer and more reliable CT unit, and that’s the
message that I want to deliver to the Minister of Health.” said
Wall.
Wall said that the Health Department could
explore the possibility of using the portable CT unit to train
health care professionals in other health regions currently not
serviced by CT technology but that are slated to receive a permanent
unit as well.
Wall concluded by saying signatures are now
being collected on a petition calling for a new CT scanner for the
southwest. The petition can be signed at the Swift Current
Constituency Office and other locations in the city.
“Once again, the people of the southwest are
responding to a common sense request of the government as we have
already received a number of petitions on this issue and I am
presenting them in the Legislature.” |
