FOLLOWING a mammoth two-year community effort to bring an MRI to Hamilton, Western District Health Service (WDHS) celebrated the official opening of the new MRI service at Hamilton Base Hospital this week.
Over 140 people gathered in the Handbury courtyard to recognise this incredible community milestone.
WDHS chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald, opened proceedings and welcomed everyone, speaking about the visionary nature of the project and how it activated the community, creating a movement to achieve the goal of securing an MRI for Hamilton.
“Given the complexity and funds required, this project looked almost impossible to achieve,” he said.
“But as we’ve seen before, the community mobilised quickly, demonstrating their unwavering support for the Appeal, and we were able to achieve our goal in only 18 months.”
Guest speakers at the opening included WDHS board chair, Anna Sweeney, project ambassador, Liam Picken, Bendigo Radiology manager, Mark Lee, and MRI sub-committee chair, Mary-Ann Brown.
With hundreds of patients coming through for an MRI since the service began in March, Bendigo Radiology’s Mark Lee said the feedback about the service has been excellent.
“To date, nearly 800 scans have been performed,” he said.
“That’s 800 people who haven’t had to travel out of Hamilton. That’s 800 people we have been able to support locally. How good is that!
“Patients have provided so much positive feedback about how lucky we are to have facilities in Hamilton - the bright, spacious new reception area is so welcoming that patients feel at ease as soon as they arrive.”
MRI sub-committee chair and local councillor, Mary-Ann Brown, talked about how the MRI for U&I campaign captured the imagination of the community.
“Throughout the fundraising campaign 1050 donations were received from 823 individuals, businesses and community organisations, raising $1.6 million for the cause – what a wonderful community we belong to, it just keeps on giving and giving,” she said.
WDHS board chair, Anna Sweeney, also acknowledged the team behind the construction.
“The MRI project was a mammoth task. Unlike a normal construction project, this one had to house a powerful magnet, connect with our existing radiology services, and allow for those services to continue during the building works and installation of the MRI,” she said.
“As always, we had the right team for the job. Thanks to building designer Chris Steel, local construction company Ultrabuild, Bendigo Radiology, the WDHS maintenance team and WDHS director of corporate services, Nick Starkie, who led the project team through many complexities.
“From the community members who’ve donated, to the staff working behind the scenes, to the local tradies who’ve worked with us and the Bendigo Radiology team – I can’t thank everyone enough for getting behind this important project.”
