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Investment Part Of Comprehensive Wait Time Plan
TORONTO, Feb. 3 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is reducing the time
Ontarians wait for key health services by delivering 119,865 additional MRI,
CT and cardiac diagnostic procedures, as well as critical cancer radiation
treatments, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced
today.
"We are taking action to ensure that people who are suffering from
serious health problems do not have to wait long periods of time for diagnosis
and treatment," Smitherman said. "We are modernizing our diagnostic and
medical equipment in order to improve the health and quality of life for tens
of thousands of patients in every area of the province."
Today's announcement of more than $120 million will improve access to key
procedures by replacing old equipment with more efficient new machines, and by
increasing the hours of operation of existing MRI machines.
Upgrading Equipment:
- $21 million to replace old MRI scanners at seven hospitals, delivering
18,581 new exams a year
- $45.3 million to replace old CT scanners at 23 hospitals, delivering
81,268 more exams a year
- $8.5 million to replace old cardiac equipment at five hospitals,
delivering 1,016 more diagnostic procedures a year to detect and
prevent heart disease
- $38.45 million to Cancer Care Ontario and the University Health
Network's Princess Margaret Hospital to replace and upgrade radiation
therapy equipment to treat people with cancer more quickly
- $2 million for MRI monitoring equipment at hospitals, to ensure
patients' comfort and safety.
Expanding Hours Of Existing MRIs:
- $5 million to immediately extend the hours of operation of existing
MRIs at 29 hospitals, delivering 19,000 more exams in 2004/2005.
"The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario is encouraged to hear the
government has cardiac patients on its radar screen. The replacement of older
cardiac equipment is a first step in helping to meet the growing needs of this
population in the province," says Dr. Anthony Graham, Foundation spokesperson.
"This announcement is part of our comprehensive approach to improving
access to health care," said Dr. Alan Hudson, who is leading the
implementation of the wait time strategy. "We are changing the way health care
is managed and delivered in order to ensure patients get the timely care they
need."
This investment is part of the McGuinty government's wait time strategy,
announced last November, to shorten wait times for five key health services -
cataract surgery, cancer care, cardiac procedures, hip and knee joint
replacements, and MRI/CT exams.
"Our government is delivering on its plan to improve access to MRI
services. Since being elected, we have increased the number of MRI scans we
are funding by 20 percent," Smitherman said. "For those who get a clean bill
of health, an MRI scan will mean peace of mind. For others, it will mean a
fighting chance against a disease such as cancer where early detection is
vital."
Today's announcement is part of the McGuinty government's comprehensive
plan to improve health care in Ontario. It's a plan that includes reducing
wait times for key procedures, creating Family Health Teams, increasing the
number of doctors and nurses, and investing heavily in community-based health
care in order to ease the pressure on hospitals and deliver care where
patients need it most - closer to home.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on the government's Wait Time Strategy, visit:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/wait_times/wait_mn.html
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Version française disponible
<<
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPROVING ACCESS TO DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
The McGuinty government is improving access to diagnostic services (MRI
and CT exams, and cardiac catheterization diagnostic procedures) for more
Ontarians this year with an investment of $74.8 million to replace older
equipment with new, more efficient machines and $5 million to expand hours of
operation. Listed below is the breakdown of the funding by hospital and the
additional exams or procedures they will be able to provide.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hospital City MRI MRI CT
Expanded Replacement Replacement
Hrs Machine Machine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central East
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Markham Markham 1,200
Stouffville exams
Hospital 1 machine
$1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southlake Newmarket 220 hrs 1,800
Regional 330 exams exams
Health $84,600 1 machine
Centre $3,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peterborough Peterborough 64 hrs
Regional 96 exams
Health $24,600
Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lakeridge Oshawa 360 hrs
Health 540 exams
Corp. $138,500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Orillia Orillia 470 exams
Soldiers' 1 machine
Memorial $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Royal Barrie 260 hrs 2,800
Victoria 390 exams
Hospital exams 1 machine
$100,000 $3,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central East Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central South
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Hamilton 260 hrs 8,448
Joseph's 390 exams exams
Health $100,000 1 machine
Care $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Niagara St. 260 hrs 1,000 exams
Health Catharines 390 exams 1 machine
System $100,000 $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton Hamilton 520 hrs 11,375
Health 780 exams exams
Sciences $200,000 2 machines
Corporation $4,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central
South
Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central West
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit Mississauga 144 hrs
Valley 216 exams
Hospital $55,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trillium Mississauga 663 hrs 7,750
Health 995 exams exams
Centre $255,000 1 machine
$3,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halton Oakville 216 hrs 2,592 exams
Health 324 exams 1 machine
Care $83,100 $1,380,000
Services
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guelph Guelph 6,000 exams
General 1 machine
Hospital $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Burlington 240 hrs
Brant 360 exams
Memorial $92,300
Hospital
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Brampton 384 hrs 4,411 exams
Osler 576 exams 1 machine
Health $147,700 $3,000,000
Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Kitchener 320 hrs
River 480 exams
Hospital $123,100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cambridge Cambridge 3,000 exams
Memorial 1 machine
Hospital $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central
West
Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
East
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children's Ottawa 180 hrs 700 exams
Hospital 270 exams 1 machine
of $69,200 $3,000,000
Eastern
Ontario
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingston Kingston 222 hrs 420 exams
General 333 exams 1 machine
Hospital $85,400 $3,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
University Ottawa
Of
Ottawa
Heart
Institute
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cornwall Cornwall 2,700 exams
Community 1 machine
Hospital $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quinte Belleville 3,050 exams
Healthcare 1 machine
Corp. $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Ottawa 960 hrs
Ottawa 1,440 exams
Hospital $369,200
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timmins Timmins 480 hrs
and 720 exams
District $184,600
Hospital
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hôpital Sudbury 480 hrs 790 exams
régional 720 exams 1 machine
de $184,600 $2,000,000
Sudbury
Regional
Hospital
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunder Thunder Bay 288 hrs 700 exams
Bay 432 exams 1 machine
Regional $110,800 $3,000,000
Health
Sciences
Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North North Bay 6,750 exams
Bay 1 machine
General $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sault Sault 6,670 exams
Area St. Marie 1 machine
Hospitals $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South West
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hotel Dieu Windsor 100 hrs
Grace 150 exams
Hospital $38,500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Joseph's London 260 hrs
Health Care 390 exams
$100,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bluewater Sarnia 1,482 exams
Health 1 machine
$1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Thomas St. Thomas 832 exams
Elgin 1 machine
General $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stratford Stratford 2,000 exams
General 1 machine
Hospital $1,380,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
London London 520 hrs 2,241 exams
Health Sc. 780 exams 1 machine
Centre $200,000 $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
South West Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hospital Toronto 2,250 exams
for Sick 1 machine
Children $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North York Toronto 240 hrs
General 360 exams
$92,300
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Humber Toronto 5,000 exams
River 1 machine
Regional $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Joseph's Toronto 480 hrs 3,686 exams
Health 720 exams 1 machine
Centre $184,600 $1,500,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Toronto 480 hrs 3,700 exams
Michael's 720 exams 1 machine
Hospital $184,600 $2,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
University Toronto 2,900 hrs 4,866 exams
Health 3,857 exams 2 machines
Network $1,115,000 $4,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Scarborough 240 hrs
Scarborough 360 exams
Hospital $92,300
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunnybrook Toronto 960 hrs 1,166 exams
Women's 1,440 exams 2 machines
College $369,200 $4,000,000
Health
Sciences
Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mt. Sinai Toronto 300 hrs
Hospital 450 exams
$115,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
19,009 18,581 81,268
exams exams exams
13,000 hrs 7 machines 26 machines
PROVINCIAL TOTAL $5,000,000 $21,000,000 $45,300,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
Hospital Cardiac Total
Catheterization
Machine
---------------------------------------------
Central East
---------------------------------------------
Markham $1,380,000
Stouffville
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Southlake $3,084,600
Regional
Health
Centre
---------------------------------------------
Peterborough $24,600
Regional
Health
Centre
---------------------------------------------
Lakeridge $138,500
Health
Corp.
---------------------------------------------
Orillia $1,380,000
Soldiers'
Memorial
---------------------------------------------
The Royal $3,100,000
Victoria
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Central East Total $9,107,700
---------------------------------------------
Central South
---------------------------------------------
St. $2,100,000
Joseph's
Health
Care
---------------------------------------------
Niagara $1,480,000
Health
System
---------------------------------------------
Hamilton 426 $5,700,000
Health procedures
Sciences 1 machine
Corporation $1,500,000
---------------------------------------------
Central $9,280,000
South
Total
---------------------------------------------
Central West
---------------------------------------------
Credit $55,400
Valley
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Trillium $3,255,000
Health
Centre
---------------------------------------------
Halton $1,463,100
Health
Care
Services
---------------------------------------------
Guelph $2,000,000
General
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Joseph $92,300
Brant
Memorial
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
William $3,147,700
Osler
Health
Centre
---------------------------------------------
Grand $123,100
River
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Cambridge $1,380,000
Memorial
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Central
West
Total $11,516,600
---------------------------------------------
East
---------------------------------------------
Children's $3,069,200
Hospital
of
Eastern
Ontario
---------------------------------------------
Kingston $3,085,400
General
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
University 150 $1,820,000
Of procedures
Ottawa 1 machine
Heart $1,820,000
Institute
---------------------------------------------
Cornwall $1,380,000
Community
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Quinte $1,380,000
Healthcare
Corp.
---------------------------------------------
The $369,200
Ottawa
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
East Total $11,103,800
---------------------------------------------
North
---------------------------------------------
Timmins $184,600
and
District
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Hôpital No new $3,854,600
régional procedures*
de 1 machine
Sudbury $1,670,000
Regional
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Thunder 140 $5,020,800
Bay procedures
Regional 1 machine
Health $1,910,000
Sciences
Centre
---------------------------------------------
North $2,000,000
Bay
General
---------------------------------------------
Sault $2,000,000
Area
Hospitals
---------------------------------------------
North Total $13,060,000
---------------------------------------------
South West
---------------------------------------------
Hotel Dieu 300 1,638,500
Grace procedures
Hospital 1 machine
$1,600,000
---------------------------------------------
St. Joseph's $100,000
Health Care
---------------------------------------------
Bluewater $1,380,000
Health
---------------------------------------------
St. Thomas $1,380,000
Elgin
General
---------------------------------------------
Stratford $1,380,000
General
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
London $2,200,000
Health Sc.
Centre
---------------------------------------------
South West Total $8,078,500
---------------------------------------------
Central
---------------------------------------------
Hospital $2,000,000
for Sick
Children
---------------------------------------------
North York $92,300
General
---------------------------------------------
Humber $2,000,000
River
Regional
---------------------------------------------
St. Joseph's $1,684,600
Health
Centre
---------------------------------------------
St. $2,184,600
Michael's
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
University $5,115,000
Health
Network
---------------------------------------------
The $92,300
Scarborough
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Sunnybrook $4,369,200
Women's
College
Health
Sciences
Centre
---------------------------------------------
Mt. Sinai $115,400
Hospital
---------------------------------------------
Central Total $17,653,400
---------------------------------------------
PROVINCIAL TOTAL 1,016 $79,800,000
procedures
5 machines
$8,500,000
---------------------------------------------
An additional $2 million is being invested in MRI monitoring equipment.
* The hospital currently relies on extended service hours to meet the
demand for cardiac catheterization services This new machine will allow
the hospital to provide this service within regular scheduled hours of
operation.
Backgrounder
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPROVING ACCESS TO CANCER TREATMENT
The McGuinty government is improving access to cancer treatment for
patients by investing $38.45 million to replace and upgrade radiation therapy
equipment throughout the province. Listed below is a breakdown of the funding:
Princess Margaret Hospital is being allocated more than $18.4 million for
the following radiation equipment purchases this year:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Funding
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Linear Accelerators 12,400,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 CT Simulator 3,820,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treatment Planning and Integration Systems 1,230,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brachytherapy Equipment 950,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Related Equipment (Bladder Scanners, Phantome) 50,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Planned Purchases 2004/05 18,450,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) is being allocated $20 million for the
following radiation therapy equipment for 2004-2005:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Cancer Centre Radiotherapy Equipment Description Funding
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamilton Regional Linear accelerator 2,535,000
Cancer Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingston Regional Linear accelerator 2,535,000
Cancer Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
London Regional CT Simulator 1,725,000
Cancer Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeastern Ontario Brachytherapy Equipment 595,000
Regional Cancer
Centre (Sudbury) Treatment Planning System 500,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa Regional Linear Accelerator 2,535,000
Cancer Centre
Linear Accelerator 3,075,000
(with Tomography)
Bunker Upgrade 1,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto Sunnybrook Treatment Planning System 1,500,000
Regional Cancer Centre
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
All RCC's are currently Integration Systems 4,000,000
preparing proposals
for CCO - individual
RCC allocations to
be determined
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Planned Purchases 20,000,000
2004/05
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The type of equipment to be purchased are listed below:
Linear Accelerator
A type of electrical machine that produces X-ray beams that are directed
at a patient's tumour from multiple directions to kill the tumour cells.
Linear Accelerator with Tomography
This linear accelerator has the added benefit of being able to take 3D
images during treatment.
CT Simulator
A device that uses CT technology and special simulation software to show
the exact location of the patient's tumour and internal organs compared to the
planned direction of the radiation beams.
Brachytherapy Equipment
A radiation treatment device safely stores radioactive pellets used in
brachytherapy to destroy a patient's tumour. The equipment also allows the
pellets to be inserted into and out of the tumour through the course of
treatment safely sparing healthy tissue.
Treatment Planning System
This equipment allows for the planning of a patient's radiation treatment
including the calculation of beam arrangements, shielding requirements, and
doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumour during treatment.
Integration Systems
This equipment is required to input 3D images and other patient data into
the treatment planning system to enable the treatment plan to be administered
and recorded.
Bladder Scanner
This is a hand-held ultrasound device used during some radiation therapy
procedures to determine the location and dimension of the bladder.
Phantome
A Phantome is an object made of plastic that reacts to radiation like
human tissue. It is used during treatment simulation to verify the direction
of the treatment beam.
Bunker Upgrade
A process in which the lead shielding of the bunker housing the new
equipment may need to be reinforced in some cases in addition to other
physical bunker changes.
>>
-30-
For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; David Jensen, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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