New MRI service at St Vincent de Paul to ease pressure on Mater Dei Hospital
Machine is part of multi-million euro investment to expand services at the hospital
A new MRI inaugurated on Thursday at St Vincent de Paul Hospital will lead to more effective treatment for patients and help ease pressure on Mater Dei, the Health Minster said.
The 1.5T MRI, which cost around €1.8 million and was co-financed by European funds, represents “a significant leap” in the quality of services offered as it allows for more complex examinations with a high level of precision.
The MRI service is set to being operating next week, as four new radiographers joined the hospital to support the expanded service. It will be available to both residents and patients aged 60 and over as part of a strategy to reduce pressure on Mater Dei Hospital and shorten waiting times.
Jo Etienne Abela said this is part of a €5 million investment in the Diagnostic Imaging Unit at St Vincent de Paul hospital which has already seen the introduction of a range of services in recent years, including modern and advanced portable imaging machines, a bone density machine, ultrasound units, a high-level CT scanner, and the new MRI.
The minister added that around 5,000 people are expected to benefit from this investment in the first year.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea said this was part of ongoing work to expand the hospital’s operations, as he revealed that works on a psychogeriatric ward are “nearing completion” and is expected to start operating from early May.
This year St Vincent de Paul has already launched a Renal Unit and expanded its pharmacy facilities, he added.