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General News

23 September, 2020

Ribbon cut on new CT scanner

THE Mareeba Hospital has finally completed its $5 million investment in the Medical Imaging Department which now includes a brand new CT scanner.

By Rhys Thomas

Ribbon cut on new CT scanner - feature photo

THE Mareeba Hospital has finally completed its $5 million investment in the Medical Imaging Department which now includes a brand new CT scanner.

The newly refurbished department was opened last Monday and not only includes the new CT scanner but a fully digital X-ray machine and dental X-ray machine.

The new X-ray machine is one of only three fully digital X-ray’s within the Cairns and Hinterlands Hospital Services area, Mareeba has even beaten out Cairns on this development.

The upgrade also houses a new ultrasound area and beds for patients to be cared for before and after the relevant scans in the Medical Imaging Department.

Mareeba Hospital Facility Manager and Director or Nursing and Midwifery Ross Clarksmith said the CT scanner uses X-rays and a computer to diagnose illness and injury.

“It’s right next to our Mareeba Hospital Emergency Department which is perfect for patients with critical injuries who need to be diagnosed quickly,” he said.

“We have not had the ability to provide CT scans previously and the community will greatly benefit from this new service.

“We will no longer have to send patients to the Cairns or Atherton Hospitals in some diagnostic cases, allowing us to treat local residents closer to home.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui has followed through on her 2017 election promise by delivering the $5 million upgrade to the Mareeba Hospital.

“This is such a great day for the Mareeba community it has been such a long journey for us to get to this point,” she said.

“We had to ensure that we had the right machine for the job and that we had all the right spaces around it to make sure patients are safe and comfortable.

“It’s exciting to be here knowing that we can now keep the patients who need a CT scan, local.”

After being opened on Monday the CT scanner was already securing bookings and scanning patients just after lunchtime on the opening.

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