Humber River Regional Hospital adds new MRI

McGuinty Government Improving Access To Diagnostic Scans

York South-Weston area residents will soon benefit from reduced MRI wait times, thanks to the addition of a new MRI machine and additional funding to reduce the number of patients waiting for MRI scans at the Humber River Regional Hospital's Church St. site. 

The new MRI is the second for Humber River Regional Hospital and will allow the hospital to do 3,120 additional scans every year. It is scheduled to begin operating for 40 hours a week later this year.

As part of provincial investments to reduce MRI wait times for patients, Humber River Regional Hospital will also receive an immediate one-time investment of $235,600 to do nearly 1400 scans using the existing machine.

The new machine will improve care for patients by reducing wait times for MRI scans, speeding time to diagnosis and treatment.

Today's announcement is part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.

QUOTES

"Thanks to this new MRI machine, thousands of patients will now have more access to this much needed diagnostic service closer to home. For so many, a new MRI will not only mean less waiting but also getting the right treatment started sooner."

• Laura Albanese, M.P.P. York South-Weston

"I'm determined to increase access to MRIs in York South-Weston. That's why I'm glad we're able to fund a second MRI at Humber River Regional Hospital. I know how important this is to the community."

• Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"This funding allows us to provide timelier, more efficient care for patients at our Church Street site. The new MRI and expanded service provides better care for our community today, and complements our technology plans for our new hospital."

• Rueben Devlin, President & CEO, Humber River Regional Hospital 

"We are committed to providing timely and appropriate access to key patient services. This funding is an important measure to help reduce wait times and provide Ontarians with better access to health care close to home."

• Monte Kwinter, M.P.P. York Centre

"Patients deserve timely and quality care when visiting our local hospital. The new MRI will improve performance and reduce wait times, which is wonderful news for our community and the Church site hospital."

• Mario Sergio, M.P.P. York West

"The new MRI scanner and additional funding for Humber River Regional Hospital will assist the hospital to reduce wait times. I expect we will see improvements in MRI wait times as a result of this priority funding."

• Kim Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Central LHIN

QUICK FACTS

• There are currently 78 MRI machines operating in Ontario's hospitals. That's 19 more MRI machines than existed in 2003.
• Between 2004-05 and 2010-11 the McGuinty Government provided Ontario hospitals with over $245M in additional funding to perform 1,388,800 more MRI exams
• There is currently one MRI machines operating at Humber River Regional Hospital that perform approximately 7,900 scans per year.