Year two of the B.C. Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy continues to move forward with the opening of a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RJH).

“Today, we are announcing the opening of the new 3T MRI at Royal Jubilee Hospital,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “This is another part of our government’s Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy, which is dramatically reducing wait times for the publicly funded MRI exams people count on.”

The B.C. Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy launched in March 2018 and performed 233,369 MRI exams provincewide through the strategy’s first year. This is a 23% increase over the 189,376 exams performed in 2017-18. Going forward, in 2019-20, a further $5.25 million is being added to further increase the provincial total to 248,369 exams annually. 

The additional MRI brings new capacity to the region and the ability to diagnose complex conditions, such as neurological disease, infiltrative heart disease and prostate cancer through the state-of-the art MRI in the south island. It is also the first location in Island Health to get an advanced 3T MRI – a type of MRI that works more quickly and produces higher quality images with shorter turnaround between patients.

The total project cost is $6 million, cost shared between Ministry of Health, the Capital Regional Hospital District, the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and Island Health.

The annual volume of MRIs conducted at the Royal Jubilee site was 7,640 in fiscal year 2018-19. Island Health expects to complete over 8,000 MRI’s in fiscal year 2019-20 at the hospital.

Quotes:

Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake –

“This is excellent news for everyone on the Island. A 3T machine is a top of the line device, and this is one of only three in the entire province. Today's investment is a big step forward for health care here on Vancouver Island.”

Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill –

“I am proud of our government’s action to improve health care in B.C. This state-of-the-art MRI machine will benefit thousands of people in Victoria and the surrounding communities, helping them remain at their healthiest.”

Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair—

“Current medical technology is remarkable, and we are grateful to our partners who are helping Island Health bring this important piece of equipment to Vancouver Island. This new MRI will benefit patients from across the Island who come to RJH for care.”

Steve McKerrell, Chair, Victoria Hospitals Foundation –

“Our donors are change makers and, together, help transform health care on the Island. Today’s announcement only reinforces the power and generosity of our community in giving back. In gifting over $2.4 million towards the funding of the 3T MRI, our donors are making a great difference in patient care on the Island. We are deeply grateful.”

Learn More:

To learn more about the B.C. Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0010-000460