Ontario Increasing Diagnostic Imaging Services in Haliburton County

NEWS July 7, 2023
HALIBURTON — The Ontario government is improving access to diagnostic imaging services and reducing wait times by supporting the installation for operation of a new Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner and a Mammography Unit with CT capabilities at Haliburton Highlands Health Services.
“Diagnostic Imaging tools are key in providing access to care locally to residents and seasonal visitors. We know that these tools will better support the needs of patients with quicker diagnostics; a reduction in ambulance visits out of the County; and attract more health care workers including much needed doctors, nurses and Medical Radiation Technologists,” MPP Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.
This new equipment is expected to be installed Spring of 2024.
“We know that early detection and diagnosis of a health issue is more than just a matter of convenience, it has an immense benefit on a person’s quality of life, prognosis and treatment path,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “With these new services, people in Haliburton County and surrounding areas can expect to receive quicker access to the diagnostic imaging services they need, closer to home.”
With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is making it easier and faster for people to access publicly funded diagnostic imaging services in the community by further leveraging the support of community surgical and diagnostic centres to eliminate backlogs and reduce wait times.

QUICK FACTS
• A CT scan is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions, by using advanced x-ray technology to take pictures of the body.
• As part of its surgical recovery strategy the province has invested over $880 million since the start of the pandemic to increase scheduled surgeries and procedures, including over $150 million for additional operating hours of diagnostic imaging services.

QUOTES
“The ability to support our patients from the moment they enter our facility, to the instant we have the diagnostic information to treat them, HHHS will soon be able to provide end-to-end diagnosis
that truly puts our patients first. As we know, CT Scan and Mammography are just two examples of important diagnostic tools that provide many benefits to the residents of Haliburton County.”
-Veronica Nelson, Acting President & CEO HHHS
“Having a CT Scanner in Haliburton will facilitate care closer to home for local residents and expedite diagnosis by eliminating travel to distant hospitals for imaging. Having access to breast cancer screening from the latest state-of-the-art Mammography unit will greatly benefit women in Haliburton County.”
-Dr. Mario Voros, Chief of Radiology HHHS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Ontario Reducing Wait Times for Publicly Funded Surgeries and Diagnostics
• Ontario Reducing Wait Times for Surgeries and Procedures
• Ontario Expanding Access to MRI Services Across the Province
• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care • 2023 Ontario Budget: Building a Strong Ontario

MEDIA CONTACT
Jay Park
MPP Laurie Scott
Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
Phone: 416-325-0277
Email: jay.park@pc.ola.org