Charters Towers Hospital still waiting for a CT scanner after two years

Community members have been left waiting for a life saving piece of equipment despite promises of new infrastructure two years ago, leaving patients to risk their health to travel to Townsville for scans.

In 2022 the state government announced they would provide a North Queensland hospital with its first CT scanner.

Now two years on and a plan for its arrival is still yet to be developed as patients continue to battle the disadvantages of the regional health care system.

In October 2022 the Palaszczuk Government announced an initial investment of $2.25m to provide a CT scanner and redevelop the facility where it would be housed in the Charters Towers Hospital.

It was estimated the project would cost $4.5m but member for Traeger Robbie Katter said this figure increased dramatically due to the complexities of conducting construction on an 140 year old heritage listed hospital to ensure the floors could bear the weight of a CT scanner.

Charters Towers Hospital, Gill St, 2023.

“It’s very disappointing. We’ve been promised (a CT scanner) for a long time but it has been tied in with the push for a new hospital and the fact that the upgrades needed to the old hospital increased the costs tremendously,” he said.

“It’s fair to say this stuff doesn’t happen in the cities, if they need it, they just get it.

“We still haven’t got a guarantee on (a new hospital) and it has been a part of my anger and frustration with the government in terms of health.”

Robbie Katter MP said he is frustrated for patients at the Charters Towers Hospital due to the lack of equipment and commitment from the government to provide new infrastructure. Picture: Shae Beplate.

For Charters Towers residents not having access to a CT scanner in the emergency department means they have to be transported to Townsville University Hospital (TUH), in turn increasing health risks and costs to patients and family members.

On Thursday last week, a 15-year-old leukaemia survivor Zavier Harper crashed his scooter, injuring his face, and needed a CT scan to rule out more serious injuries.

After calling his mum, Catherine Harper and attending the hospital in Charters Towers, Zavier was flown to TUH to ensure he hadn’t broken bones under his nose, or injured his neck and spine.

“He was wearing a helmet, so his head was protected but he just managed to injure his face,” Ms Harper said.

Zavier Harper, a 15-year-old leukaemia survivor sustained facial injuries after crashing his scooter on Thursday. He was flown to Townsville University hospital due to the lack of CT scanner at Charters Towers hospital.

Six hours after the crash they arrived at the Townsville airport where Zavier was then taken by ambulance to TUH.

“We had to wait a while because obviously emergency is always really busy … but a few hours later the scan came back all clear,” Ms Harper said.

Zavier was discharged in the early hours of Friday morning, nearly 12 hours after he crashed.

While Zavier was removing well, Ms Harper said the situation was frustrating.

“(Health staff) don’t have the infrastructure to be able to deal with everything. They do their best with what they’ve got, they’re all amazing but you just can’t do everything,” she said.

“My daughter was sick at one point so we were going between Charters Towers and Townsville hospital a couple of times just to work out what was going on, it’s just frustrating more than anything.”

Zavier Harper, a 15-year-old leukaemia survivor sustained facial injuries after crashing his scooter in January 2025. He was flown to Townsville University hospital due to the lack of CT scanner at Charters Towers hospital.

A spokesman for Health and Ambulance Services Minister, Tim Nicholls, said the Crisafulli Government had committed to installing nine CT scanners and six MRI machines across the state.

“Part of the Crisafulli Government’s First 100 Days plan is to identify which satellite and regional hospitals – including consideration of locations like Charters Towers – may be suitable for adding CT scanners and MRI machines,” he said.

“In Opposition, the LNP identified the need for CT scanners and MRI machines to be installed in regional hospitals to provide benefits for faster accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans, reduced length of stay for patients, and cost savings related to patient transfers and workforce efficiencies.

“Queensland Health has commenced detailed delivery implementation planning to be completed by mid 2025.”

Originally published as Charters Towers Hospital still waiting for a CT scanner after two years