State Government to set aside millions to upgrade Redcliffe Hospital’s imaging department

The State Government says its coming budget will include $17.6 million for upgrades to a busy southeast Queensland hospital’s medical imaging services including a new CT scanner and MRI machine.

State Labor MPs for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath and Health Minister Steven Miles check out the imaging department at Redcliffe Hospital. Photo: Erin Smith

The State Government is expected to set aside $17.6 million to upgrade the medical imaging services at Redcliffe Hospital including a new MRI machine and a second CT scanner.

The hospital, north of Brisbane, services the suburbs of Redcliffe, Deception Bay, North Lakes, Brighton and part of the Pine Rivers district.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles and state Labor MP for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath made the announcement at Redcliffe Hospital this morning.

State Labor MP for Murrumba and Health Minister Steven Miles with Yvette D'Ath at the Redcliffe Hospital. Photo: Erin Smith

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In the lead up to the recent Federal Election the Labor Party had promised more than $12 million to upgrade the medical imaging department and a new CT scanner.

Mr Miles said the state government was stepping up to fund the “much needed CT scanner”.

The State’s commitment to fund the MRI machine had been announced previously.

Redcliffe Hospital Medical Director of Medicine Services Dr Catherine Yelland said access to a second scanner would benefit patients and doctors.

She said the CT scanner often operated at capacity and when it was shut down for maintenance patients needing a scan had to be taken to other hospitals.

Dr Yelland said the combination of two CT scanners and an MRI machine would allow the hospital to provide better services to patients.

State Labor MP for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath and State Health Minister Steven Miles check out the CT scanner at the Redcliffe Hospital. Photo: Erin Smith

“We have a big cancer section here at Redcliffe Hospital and (these machines) are really important for cancer patients and children as well,” she said.

Ms D’Ath said the additional scanners would reduce waiting times.

The MRI machine will be supported by a full Medicare-eligible licence, which was awarded by the Federal Government.

“A licence makes the operation of an MRI machine significantly more affordable and a machine at Redcliffe will also take pressure off surrounding hospital MRI services like Caboolture,” she said.

The MRI machine and new CT scanner will each cost $3.3 million. A further $11 million will go towards the upgrade works.

It has not yet been decided where the new medical imaging department will be located but there are hopes it will be closer to the Emergency Department — which the Federal Government has promised to upgrade with a new paediatrics section.

There was no time frame on when the new services would be available.

Mr Miles said the $4 million project to upgrade the hospital’s Special Care Nursery, Birth Suite and Paediatric Wards was also underway.

He said construction on the new multistorey carpark was due to start later this year.