Bowen Hospital gears up for new CT Scanner
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MP George Christensen outside the Bowen Hospital with Bowen Business Chamber president Bruce Hedditch.
MARCH 21, 2019: Patients in Bowen will now be able to access lifesaving scans for cancer, stroke, heart and other medical conditions with the Morrison Liberal National Government awarding $5 million to Bowen Hospital for the purchase of a CT Scanner.
Government funding is expected to benefit 800 patients ayear, reducing the need to transfer via ambulance to centres such asProserpine, Mackay or Townsville.
The need for a CT scanner had been raised with me by leaders of the Bowen community as well as the Mackay Health and Hospital Service.
A CT is commonly used to evaluate an abnormality seen on another test such as an X-ray or an ultrasound. They can be used to check for specific symptoms such as pain or dizziness. People with cancer may have a CT to evaluate the spread of disease.
Public hospital outpatients and private patients needing these image services have to travel a couple of hours either north or south to get medical imaging done, and that always takes time and money, not to mention the considerable impacts on people who may be very unwell.
Often people need to be transported by ambulance to get CT scans done.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said investments in services like these at Bowen Hospital can only be made if we have a strong economy.
“The Federal Government is providing $5 million for a CTscanner in Bowen, and I am now calling on the Queensland Labor Government toprovide funding to refurbish the medical imaging area,” Minister Hunt said.
“Facilities such as this should always be covered by State Government, but due to the strong representation by the Member for Dawson, George Christensen, I am happy to get the ball rolling on the provision of this health service.”
“I now call on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to step up for the people of Bowen and Collinsville, people in regional areas, and get the necessary expansion or refurbishment of the Bowen Hospital done so that people can realise the benefits of having a CT scanner here.”
The Liberal National Government’s strong economic managementensures the continued record investment of funding into vital healthinitiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare andhospitals.
