Filed for publication with the Mirror
Mr. Don Hubbard, Chair VIHA Board and All VIHA Board members
Re: Mobile MRI machine to serve the North Island
We are pleased to see that VIHA has had second thoughts about scrapping the urgently needed mobile MRI machine which was to serve the North Island. It is a vital piece of equipment required for our area to serve all the other areas of the North Island by rotating between three locations. It was a very good decision to conduct a review to implement the MRI service but a very bad decision to scrap the idea with some questionable figures reported, that appear to be incorrect, given as a reason to scrap the idea.
It is heartening that VIHA has realized the significant importance of an MRI machine for the North Island and is taking an important second look after listening to so many concerned citizens. This project certainly looks affordable and would be of enormous assistance to the patients and physicians of the North Island. It is a hardship for many patients to travel to Nanaimo or Victoria for MRI tests. It would enhance our health care services greatly, reduce wait lists for people requiring an urgent diagnosis and would attract radiologists also urgently needed. Hopefully there will be national standards set for wait times for people to get MRIs as there are currently for hip and knee surgeries. We really need to bring this mobile MRI machine service to fruition, the sooner the better.
Lois Jarvis
Campbell River