Brockville General Hospital getting new MRI machine by late 2023

Long wait times have forced Brockville residents to travel out of town to access MRI imaging — but in two years' time, that will change.

On Thursday, October 28, Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, announced that the Ontario government will be investing in annual operating costs towards a new MRI machine for the Brockville General Hospital (BGH).

The new MRI and its suite is anticipated to be fully operational by late 2023.

“Access to this type of technology is critical for our community and I’m proud that our government has committed to providing the annual funding to support an MRI at BGH,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Currently, Kingston, Ottawa and Cornwall are the closest places for Brockville residents to access MRIs.

According to a news release from the Brockville General Hospital, many people are waiting an average of four to five months, which impacts diagnosis, care and quality of life.

The hospital added that Ontario has a growing MRI waiting list — with Health Quality Ontario reporting in August that only 38 per cent of Ontario’s adult patients are scanned within their target time.

“As a high-performing medium-sized hospital, BGH is well-positioned to expand into these services,” Michael Adamcryck, chair of the hospital’s board of directors, said. “Introducing MRI services at BGH means better access, closer to home.”

The cost of an MRI machine and suite is estimated at $6 million.

“MRI imaging can help physicians provide early diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, frequently eliminating the need for other tests,” noted Dr. Andrew Hamilton, Chief of Staff at the hospital. “This can make a big impact on an individual’s quality of life. In addition, increasing access to this service supports our staff with the right tools and technology to safely and confidently provide the best patient care.”

Annual operating costs are largely dependent upon government funding, and infrastructure, equipment and technology are made possible through community support, Brockville General added.