Province Funds New Diagnostic Equipment for Cape Breton Hospitals
The province will spend nearly $1.1 million to upgrade medical equipment to improve health care services at two Cape Breton hospitals.
The province will provide $975,000 toward a new CT scanner for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, and $112,500 for a new digital angiography unit at the Glace Bay Hospital. The new units will replace older equipment that can no longer be repaired.
"As part of our Better Care Sooner plan, we're ensuring Nova Scotia hospitals are well-equipped to offer the best care possible," said Health and Wellness Minister Maureen MacDonald. "We have funding available to replace essential equipment when needed as part of our commitment to help reduce health care wait times."
The 64-slice CT scanner, which sends x-ray beams from several different angles, will produce more detailed internal images with clearer resolution. It replaces a 12-year-old scanner at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital that could no longer be used.
The digital angiography unit takes time-controlled x-ray images of blood vessels to assess circulation. The new equipment replaces a 13-year-old analog machine and will provide advanced technology in assessing patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases. The upgrade will help to improve the quality of care for patients at the Glace Bay Hospital's retinal clinic.
"The new equipment will improve the diagnostic services we offer patients from across the district," said John Malcom, CEO of Cape Breton District Health Authority. "Our old machines have reached the end of their service lives and replacement is necessary.
"These new units have different uses but, overall, they will streamline and enhance how we assess, diagnose and treat patients. We're delighted to receive the funding from the province and we're taking steps to have the equipment in place as soon as possible."
The provincial funding covers 75 per cent of the cost. The Cape Breton District Health Authority will provide the remaining 25 per cent. This cost-sharing formula was agreed to last year.
The province has awarded $9.4 million in funding to district health authorities to purchase necessary medical capital equipment in the 2011-12 fiscal year.