MELTON residents no longer have to travel to Sunshine or Ballarat to get an MRI scan, with a local imaging firm unveiling a new machine last week.
About 75 patients made appointments to use Lake Imaging’s $3 million scanner in its first week.
An MRI machine is used to scan tumours, joint or spinal injuries or diseases, and soft tissue injuries or diseases of internal organs such as the brain or heart.
Melton resident Dean Bliss has already used the machine twice and said it was a relief not to have to travel for scans of his knee, pelvis and back.
“It’s much better having it locally than outside Melton in Geelong or Ballarat,” he said.
Lake Imaging regional manager Eddy Cattapan said the new machine would take a lot of pressure off residents who were unable to travel long distances.
“Basically, having the MRI in Melton means that finally Melton and surrounds have access to a unit, which until now hasn’t been possible,” he said.
“The closest was 30-40 kilometres away at Sunshine or Ballarat. It opens up that new technology to the people of Melton.”
Mr Cattapan said the machine should be available every day within the month. “The waiting lists can blow out to about a month if you’re trying to get to a public hospital.
“So we’d be hoping to run it full-time for 50 patients a week.”
—Stephanie Zevenbergen
