For Immediate Release
February 3, 2005

McGUINTY GOVERNMENT IMPROVES ACCESS TO IMPORTANT MEDICAL PROCEDURES IN KINGSTON

KINGSTON - The McGuinty government is reducing wait times in Kingston by investing a total of $5,620,400 in area hospitals.

Kingston General Hospital has been allocated $3,085,400 for a more efficient MRI machine, and to expand the current MRI machine operating hours. In all, 753 more MRI procedures will be conducted at Kingston General Hospital because of this investment, John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and The Islands announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. In addition, Kingston Regional Cancer Centre has been allocated $2,535,000 for a new Linear accelerator, which will improve access to cancer treatment for patients in the Kingston area.

"This is great news for health care in Kingston. It will ensure that people suffering from significant health problems do not have to wait long periods of time to be diagnosed and treated," Gerretsen said. " Early detection and treatment are so important and by making these investments we are helping to improve the health and quality of life of people in Kingston."

The funding for Kingston General Hospital and Kingston Regional Cancer Centre is part of an overall investment of more than $120 million to replace old MRI/ CT scanners, cardiac diagnostic and cancer radiation equipment with state of the art equipment, as well as increase the number of MRI hours at existing sites. It will result in a total of 119,865 additional procedures, including 37,581 MRIs, 81,268 CTs, and 1,016 cardiac diagnostic procedures. It will also improve access to critical treatment for cancer patients across Ontario.

"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.

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