MRI installation hits delay

A magnetic resonance imaging machine will not be installed at Albany Health Campus until the end of the year, despite WA Country Health Service saying the machine would be up and running early this year.

The installation of the MRI machine, which costs between $1.5 million and $1.75 million, has been delayed because of works needed to be carried out by the State Government.

The works include installing a quench pipe and Faraday Enclosure to block outside electrical interference.

It is understood these works could have been carried out during the original construction of Albany Health Campus.

WA Country Health Service Great Southern acting regional director David Naughton said the department was finalising the tender process to select a company to install the MRI machine.

“It is estimated that this work will be completed and the equipment will be operational in the later half of 2014,” he said.

“Works include … the supply and installation of a Faraday Enclosure, a quench pipe which will run from the machine to the roof of the hospital, wall panelling, flooring, lighting, a chiller, electrical services, mechanical services and roof safety provisions.”

Mr Naughton would not comment on the cost of the installation.

Great Southern Radiology director Paul Salmon, whose company purchased the machine and would operate it once installed, confirmed the delay.

“You hate to see people who could quite easily and adequately have the scan in Albany travel to Perth,” he said.

“There is a fair bit of stuff that still needs to be sorted, the State Government is responsible for the infrastructure.”

Dr Salmon said once the machine was installed, patients could start using it, despite the Medicare rebate not starting until January 1, 2015.

This would mean private patients would pay a fee and afterwards eligible private patients would be able to claim a rebate.

“An MRI is the best and quickest way to identify many conditions and diseases, other tests can do it but it’s the best,” he said.

Dr Salmon said a radiologist, two specialist technicians, a nurse and potentially another staff member would need to be employed to run the machine.

Albany MP Peter Watson said it was disappointing that the more-specific features needed for a room to house an MRI machine had not been constructed during the building of the health campus.

“When they built the hospital they knew an MRI machine would go in and put a room aside,” he said.

“It’s disappointing, we’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Health Consumers Council executive director Frank Prokop said if the machine was in the metropolitan area it would already be installed and there seemed to be different standards for the regions.

“This is not fair on the people of Albany, the MRI machine has not come out of the blue,” he said.