September 27, 2005

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE―Health Minister Tim Sale today officially opened a new CT scanner at Portage District General Hospital, the fifth installed in the province since 1999.

"Investing in new equipment helps reduce diagnostic wait times by taking pressure off services provided at Winnipeg hospitals and the Boundary Trails Health Centre," said Sale. "We remain committed to working with our partners in the regions to make sure people have access to diagnostic testing and better care sooner that is also closer to home."

"This initiative aligns with the region’s vision to enhance access to the primary health care services of diagnosis and treatment," said Neil Walker, CEO of the Regional Health Authority — Central Manitoba. "We appreciate the financial commitment of both Manitoba Health and the Portage District General Hospital Foundation to this project, keeping the centre current and modern."

A CT scanner is a sophisticated instrument that converts a standard X-ray into a three-dimensional image which can be available electronically to physicians in Boundary Trails Hospital. It is used to diagnose brain and spinal cord injuries and diseases, as well as diseases of the liver, lungs, kidneys and other abdominal organs. The new CT scanner in Portage la Prairie will conduct more than 2,300 scans per year.

The total cost of the project, including the new CT scanner, is estimated at $2.1 million and funded through the federal Health Equipment and Infrastructure Fund and the Portage District General Hospital Foundation. The project is a key component of Manitoba Health’s Wait Time Reduction Strategy.

Since 1999, the province has invested more than $70 million in diagnostic equipment.

- 30 -