Patients and doctors want it, the money might be there so why isn't Portage la Prairie getting an MRI?
Estimates suggest MRI would only be used half the time, but PC MLA says those figures are an undercount
Patients and doctors are pleading for anMRI in Portage la Prairie, and the city may even have enough money but the Manitoba government still isn't willing to install the high-tech scanner.
The province has 14 MRI scanners, and a current waitlist of just over 24,100 scans.
Judith Jeffries, who has recently joined her husbandon that list,said she doesn't understand the NDP government's reluctance, when hersouthern Manitoba city could serve as aregional hub for manypeople waiting on a scan.
"They tell us 'we're a listening government. We want to hear from the people,'" Jeffriessaid of the Manitoba NDP.
But the reluctance to fund an MRI for Portage la Prairie sends the message "they don't care about me, they don't care about him, they don't care about the other 24,000 people," she said.
The retired vegetable farmers both need MRI scans, but neither hasa scheduled date.
Judith Jeffrieswants torule out a brain tumour as the cause ofseizures she's had. She doesn't believe she has cancer, but she wants the peace of mind.
She's more scared for the health of her husband, Dave.He needs an MRI to determine ifhis kidney cancer has returned, she said. He foughtthe disease once, but a CT scan recently detected another spot on his kidney.
His health could deteriorate as he waits for an MRI scan.
"When you're married tosomeone for 45 years,you can't imagine your life without them," said Judith, tearing up. "I've lost a lot of friends and I've lost a lot of family to cancer and I know eventually it comes back."
Dave said the news is unsettling.
"I'm not one to really worry about everything," he saidsoftly. "But it's a concern."
Jeff Bereza, who represents Portage la Prairie in the Manitoba Legislature, thinks now is theperfect timefor installing anMRI in the city.
A $455-million hospital is under construction, with plans to welcome patients bylate 2025.
The Progressive Conservative MLA saidhe's been told by hospital officials the facilitywill have the space and electrical capacities to accommodate anMRI.
'A glaring omission': doctors
The previous PC governmentannounced the new hospital in 2021, but the plan didn't include anMRI. The government of the day saidthere are only about 3,000 patients from the area who needMRIs each year, which would only occupy amachine half the time. The new NDP government has made the same argument.
That explanation initially made sense to Bereza, who was first elected to the legislature last fall, but he says his opinion changed in April after he received a letter, signed by 35 Portage la Prairie doctors, describingthe lack of anMRI in the hospital plans as "a glaring omission."
"Our patient population faces many health inequities, and we worry that not having the foresight to include an MRI scanner will only exacerbate these inequities, rewarding those communities that can afford private funding," said the letter, addressed to Premier Wab Kinew.
Bereza met with the doctors, who told him the 3,000 MRI scans a year are an undercount when you consider the appointments cancelled, rescheduled or missed. Some patients, he said, don't have the means to travel to other parts of the province for a scan.
Judith Jeffries said she heard from a physician who limitstheir requests for MRI scanswhich are capable of diagnosing various medicalconditionsbecause "they're not going to happen," referring patients instead toultrasounds,CAT scans and blood work, which are an inferior option in some cases.
Since hearing from the physicians, Berezahas taken up thecharge to have anMRI installed in Portage la Prairie. He's circulated petitionssigned by well over 3,000 people andencouraged residents to write to the government,and is also planning a town hall in October.
He said his advocacyis driven by his constituents.
It's the "mom with a two-year-old child witha hole in his heart waiting[for anMRI,]to people with hip and knee surgery, and they're walking with walkers," Bereza said.
Following through on expectations: NDP
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara wasn't available late last week for an interview, butspokesperson Emily Couttssaid the government is following the scope of the construction project unveiled by the Tories.
"It was important to our government that we follow through on the expectations set out with the community at the time of the project being announced," she said in an email.
Bereza doesn't believe money should be a barrier. The Portage District General Hospital Foundation has promised $5 million for an MRI, which may cover the entire costfor purchasing and installingthe machine, said Bereza, who said he'sspoken to three companies that manufacture MRI suites.
There would also be annual operating costs tied to the MRI.
Bereza said he's learned the price to install an MRI could jump by several million dollars after the hospital is built, since parts of the building would have to be redone.
Tara Pettinger, executive director of Portage's hospital foundation, was diplomatic when asked about the proposal. She said the foundationwrote to the province to express their interest in working with them.
"If the decision was made to bring an MRI here, we wanted to make sure that it was known that we wanted to be here to help assist with that in any way that we could," she said.
DaveJeffriessaid the province should act whilemillions of dollars are available.
"It's just foolish in my mind. Now is the time to do it, when they're building the hospital."
After months of waiting, he and Judithare now planning to travel out of province toget their MRI scansin Gatineau, Que. They anticipate spending a few thousand on the tests, flights and accommodations.
Judith Jeffries wishes thatoption didn't feel necessary.
"[Governments] keep saying they don't want a two-tiered medical system. I hate to tell them, there is already a two-tiered medical system," she said.
For those who can afford it, she said, "when it comes to life and death, I think anyone would pay for it."
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