Residents in Bathurst can now access advanced diagnostic services closer to home, with a new $4.92 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facility officially opened at Bathurst Health Service today.
Deputy Premier and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the state-of-the-art facility will allow for faster diagnosis and treatment of patients in the local area.
“This brand new MRI service is a welcome addition for Bathurst and the surrounding communities, helping to reduce travel and wait times for local patients,” Mr Toole said.
“The delivery of this new MRI service means patients will no longer need to be transferred out of the facility to receive an MRI.”
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the service is improving access and health outcomes for the Bathurst community.
“Previously patients from Bathurst and surrounding areas had to travel to Orange to access a public MRI service. This location ensures the MRI is well located to other medical imaging and clinical services the community can already access at the hospital,” Mrs Taylor said.
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is continuing to invest heavily in infrastructure to future-proof healthcare right across the state, committing a record $11.9 billion investment over four years to 2025-26.”
The new Bathurst Health Service MRI facility is located on the south west side of the hospital, as part of the Medical Imaging Unit.
Patients seeking to access the new MRI service will require a referral from a GP or specialist.
Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 180 health capital works projects across NSW, with more than 130 projects currently underway.