Coleraine scancentre provides lifesaving service

A privately owned MRI Scanner facility in Coleraine is helping to saves lives, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has said.

Speaking after visiting the Province’s first independent MRI scanning centre on the outskirts of the town on Wednesday, Mr. Trimble, said the centre was saving lives because of its ability to cut the waiting times for potentially lifesaving scans.

“The reality is that in the Health Service we currently have waiting times of up to two years for an MRI scan with growing pressure for appointments," the Upper Bann MP said.

“Patients are being disadvantaged at a critical time when early diagnosis is key. That is why it is imperative that we have devolution restored in Northern Ireland so we can attempt to make serious inroads into tackling the major challenges of improving healthcare for everyone.”

Mr Trimble, on the election campaign in the North West, was accompanied by East Londonderry candidates David McClarty, Edwin Stevenson and Norman Hillis.

They were met at the Scancentre by Michael Wilson who revealed that patients from all over the province and the Republic have travelled to use the centre.

Private patients who have been referred to the centre can have a scan and report returned to their referring doctor within seven days.

(MB)