Advocates push for vital CT scanner
COMMUNITY advocates are pushing for what they believe is an essential piece of health equipment to stop Burdekin region patients being transported to Townsville after hours.
Burdekin Community Advisory Network wants the state and federal governments to fund a CT scanner to meet growing demand at Ayr Health Service.
Burdekin’s only machine is privately owned and available during business hours, with any patients requiring a scan outside those hours needing to be transported 88km to Townsville.
Burdekin CAN chairwoman Kaylee Boccalatte said the group was seeking $2.86 million to cover the purchase of the scanner, construction of a dedicated building for the equipment, training of existing radiography staff, and initial set up costs.
“Every person in our community deserves the best possible health outcome no matter the time of day or night,” she said.
“Acquiring a CT Scanner is about ensuring equity of access for rural patients and overcoming the barriers to essential resources faced by our people, services and community.”
Ms Boccalatte said recent
requests for a CT scan after hours included a teenager who injured their neck in after-school sport, an adult with head injuries after a traffic accident, and an elderly person who began displaying symptoms of underlying conditions.
“These are all fairly common reasons to present to emergency departments, demonstrating the demand for a CT Scanner at the Ayr Health Service available for use 24/7,” she said.
“When patients present after hours and require a CT scan, this requires an on-duty nurse, ambulance, and a paramedic to travel to Townsville with them, reducing staff and
transport capacity for several hours at a time – which can then further be exacerbated if Townsville University Hospital is at or over capacity, as it has been often in recent years.”
Ms Boccalatte urged community members to raise awareness of the issue and to advocate to state and federal ministers for support.
In September, Katter’s Australia Party called on the State Government to fund CT scanners in all district hospitals, and to prioritise the North Queensland region first.
“In the Townsville region, none of our district hospitals – which service populations of well above 10,000 people – have this important yet basic medical infrastructure,” KAP leader Robbie Katter said.
Ayr Health Service is operated and managed by Queensland Health, and the federal government provides funding through the National Health Reform Agreement to assist with the costs of delivering public hospital services.
According to the federal department of health, state governments also committed under the NHRA to have arrangements in place to ensure access to services, including CT scanners and diagnostics, regardless of geographical location. Queensland Health was contacted for comment.