A PRIVATE hospital in Waurn Ponds has launched a campaign to secure one of the Medicare-eligible licences for its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine.<\/p>\n
Last week, Epworth called on the community to support its application to the federal Health Minister for the subsidised licence, which would provide scans for patients suffering from trauma, brain disorders, heart conditions, cancer, and stroke, among other conditions.<\/p>\n
The hospital says a Medicare-eligible unit would ensure community access to bulk-billed MRI and ease pressure on existing licensed services in central Geelong.<\/p>\n
Epworth Geelong chief executive officer Damian Armour said the hospital provided cardiac and \u2013 for the first time in Geelong \u2013 neurosurgical services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are very few, if any, hospitals in Australia of this size and breadth of services without on-site Medicare-subsidised MRI.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Greater Geelong region is one of the fastest growing in the country but with only two fully Medicare-eligible MRI units, this community is disadvantaged in comparison to smaller populations including Bendigo, with three fully eligible units, and Ballarat and Warrnambool, each with two.”<\/p>\n
One patient very grateful for Epworth’s MRI scanner is Bellbrae teenager Riley Taylor, who fractured his neck and upper spine after an accident while riding on trails in the Great Otway National Park near Anglesea.<\/p>\n
Riley\u2019s mother, Kirby, requested that the 14-yearold be taken to the nearest hospital \u2013 Epworth Geelong \u2013 where he was assessed via MRI within the hour and then transferred to the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiley is making a remarkable recovery thanks to his rapid diagnosis and clinical care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said cost should never determine whether or not a seriously ill patient received optimal treatment.<\/p>\n
Epworth Geelong\u2019s campaign was launched last week with the support of Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted that the Morrison Government has committed to fund 30 Medicare subsidised MRIs across the country and am strongly backing Epworth\u2019s campaign for a MRI licence,\u201d Ms Henderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEpworth is the only hospital in our region which offers neurological services. A Medicare-subsidised MRI will make such a difference to Corangamite residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information about the campaign, head to epworthgeelong.org.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A PRIVATE hospital in Waurn Ponds has launched a campaign to secure one of the Medicare-eligible licences for its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. Last week, Epworth called on the community to support its application to the federal Health Minister for the subsidised licence, which would provide scans for patients suffering from trauma, brain disorders, […]<\/p>\n