B.C. Premier John Horgan was in 91原创 Tuesday morning to announce the start of construction for a new MRI scanning machine, the first for 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
The new machine, first announced last year, will be able to perform 7,500 MRI exams annually, Horgan said, saying it will reduce wait times and allow better treatment plans and recovery for 91原创 residents after it opens for operations in mid-2020.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 incredible,鈥� said Ellen Peterson, the chair of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation board.
Right now, patients who arrive at 91原创 Memorial and need an MRI have to be bundled up into an ambulance and taken to another community, then brought back for more treatment.
鈥淣ow we鈥檒l be able to do this right here,鈥� said Peterson.
鈥淪ince coming to government, there are three new MRIs in Fraser Health, two in Surrey, one in Abbotsford,鈥� Horgan said, touting the reductions in wait times for MRI scans in Fraser Health and other areas of the province.
The median wait time in Fraser Health has gone from 98 to 49 days for an MRI appointment.
鈥淏ut we have to do more,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to drive those numbers down.鈥�
The new MRI will be part of that, the premier said.
The project will cost $8.75 million, with $4.75 million coming from provincial coffers through Fraser Health, and a further $4 million from the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation. The foundation exceeded its fundraising goals for the under-construction emergency room expansion and MRI project in June.
READ MORE: Why 91原创 Memorial Hospital should have an MRI
READ MORE: Caring community credited with shattering hospital foundation鈥檚 $15-million ER fundraising goal
鈥淥ur fundraising efforts have highlighted the philanthropic pride and ownership the community of 91原创 feels for the hospital,鈥� said Peterson.
She noted that the $17 million raised 鈥� the original goal was $15 million 鈥� for the ER and MRI suite was the largest fundraising effort of the Hospital Foundation, but also the largest fundraiser held for any reason in 91原创鈥檚 history.
Some of the money came from major donors, such as $2 million from the Skidmore family and $5 million from the Martini family, but there were also donations of $5 from patients who 鈥渨anted to honour the caregivers who provided such great care,鈥� said Peterson.
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Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com
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