License MRI machine at Gosford hospital

I had the misfortune to experience the trip from Gosford Hospital to the MRI machine at Central Coast Radiology in January 2004 while suffering from whiplash.

I found it discomforting for myself as a patient to do this one kilometre trip each way.

The medical attention was top class.

This trip employed the resources of an already-overworked professional medical staff and ambulance drivers who could be better employed in other areas if there was no requirement to transport patients.

It seemed a drain on resources.

The Minister for the Central Coast, Grant McBride, has urged Gosford Liberal MP Chris Hartcher to pressure the Federal Government to grant Gosford Hospital's MRI unit a Medicare licence.

The Gosford Local Government Area is now approaching 200,000 people and the hospital is serviced by one small private MRI clinic, which is subject to waiting lists and is not able to adequately deal with emergency situations at Gosford Hospital.

I think this matter is urgent now and should have been dealt with months ago.

Were it not for the Wooldridge MRI scam scandal of 1999, when licenses were handed out left right and centre to private operators throughout Australia this would have been dealt with long ago.

This is clearly a case of the Howard federal government favouring the private health sector against the public sector and the public good: The creation of a two-tiered system of health.

Mr. Lloyd and Mr Hartcher should be calling on Federal Health Minister Abbott to issue a license to the MRI machine at Gosford Hospital immediately and until he does that a large section of the community which doesn't have private health insurance, or independent means, will be unable to access this important diagnostic facility.

The Central Coast has a state-of-the-art hospital, which has the capability to become a great education facility, with cutting edge technology supplied.

The education facility this could become and improvement in our emergency services is held up by the issuing of a Medicare licence.

The cost of that licence is $600.

The Howard Government saw fit to waste $55 million of taxpayers money on propaganda for Industrial Relations change with it's Worstchoices (sorry Workchoices) policy.

Budget surpluses seem to be self promotion rather than any benefit to the community.

At Christmas time, the disadvantaged are once more oppressed..

Pick up the phone Mr. Lloyd or Mr. Hartcher, represent the people in your electorate responsibly.

Mike Hudson, Umina Beach