Werribee Mercy Hospital promised Medicare-funded MRIs under Labor Government
Sick and injured people in Melbourne’s west are putting their lives at risk by forgoing lifesaving medical scans because they can’t afford them, a federal Labor MP says. Now, they might be able to access them for less — but there’s a catch.
Wyndham Leader
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Sick people in Melbourne’s western suburbs would get affordable access to lifesaving medical scans closer to home under a Labor government.
Subsidised MRIs would be available at Werribee Mercy Hospital under the plan, which will save Wyndham patients up to $500 per visit.
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Currently, people living in Werribee and surrounding suburbs must travel to Geelong, Sunshine or the city to access a Medicare-subsidised machine or face paying hundreds of dollars at a private medical centre.
Lalor federal Labor MP Joanne Ryan said some people could be putting their lives at risk by putting off scans.
“I have heard many horror stories from locals who have been forced to pay high out-of-pocket costs, drive significant distances, or forgo scans altogether,” she said.
She said Labor’s commitment would benefit the local community and take pressure off MRI services in Melbourne and Geelong.
The pledge is part of an Opposition promise to roll out 20 licences across the country if elected to government this year, with 10 of those reserved for public hospitals.
The remaining 10 will be decided via a transparent application process.
The Coalition has committed to funding 30 licences across Australia if re-elected — including one for Epworth Geelong — but has yet to promise one will go to Werribee Mercy.
Ms Ryan said hundreds of people had signed a petition calling on Health Minister Greg Hunt to match Labor’s commitment to fund an MRI licence in Wyndham.
“The Liberals’ gift of an MRI licence to a private hospital in Geelong is an insult to the quarter of a million people who live in Wyndham and surrounds,” she said.
“Wyndham locals have had enough of being short-changed.”
MRI scans are used to detect and diagnose conditions affecting soft tissue — including tumours and cancer — and are critical in the early detection of many diseases.
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