Petition for MRI in Warrnambool Tabled in Federal Parliament
Hawker tables MRI appeal
Wimmera Mail Times, Page: 5
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Ref: 70182751
FEDERAL Member for Wannon David Hawker tabled a petition for a MRI licence for Warrnambool in Federal Parliament last week.
Twenty-six doctors from Hamilton, Stawell, Ararat and Warrnambool have signed a petition asking for the machine.
Mr Hawker said in Parliament that Health Minister Nicola Roxon was ignoring western Victoria.
"We have reached the point where it seems almost ridiculous that the minister continues to procrastinate on the granting of an MRI licence in Warrnambool, despite a number of delegations to talk to her," he said.
Liberal Candidate for Wannon Dan Tehan collected signatures for the petition. Mr Tehan has been campaigning for the health service in south-west Victoria.
Mr Hawker said there was no MRI machine between Ballarat, Geelong and Adelaide.
"The whole of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia does not have an MRI machine," he said.
"When you look at the fact that there are MRI machines in Gippsland and other regional areas in Victoria, you see that the time really has come to have one in Warrnambool.
"Not having an MRI in this day and age is equivalent to a doctor not having a stethoscope." Mr Hawker said Warrnamhool had two oncologists who would both be able to use the machine to benefit patients.
"Patients in the region would no longer have to travel at great expense to have an MRI scan," he said.
Mr Hawker said the petition was the first step in getting a cancer treatment centre in Warrnambool and he commended Mr Tehan for his work.
"I urged the minister to take notice of this petition and I commend Dan Tehan for the work he has done," he said.
"This shows that he is very much in touch with local issues." Adele Holland
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