Wagga hospital MRI unused

A jewel in the hospital’s $282 million redevelopment, the $2.7 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine was unveiled as part of the site’s upgrade in November last year.

The hospital’s then-general manager, Denis Thomas, said during its launch there were plans to have the MRI machine available for outpatients to ensure “maximum value out of that money”. 

 But a hospital nurse, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution, told The Daily Advertiser the machine is yet to be used.

She claimed staff employed to operate the machine were being paid “$60-plus an hour”, however, weren’t operating the machine because of a contract dispute. 

"The MRI machine has done nothing, it's just sat there,” the nurse said.

"It's costing $20,000 a month in gas just to keep the MRI machine on, even though it's not being used."

The machine, which provides vital scans of the body, is the first of its kind at Wagga hospital and means patients will not need to travel or go to private clinics.

In an emailed statement, the hospital’s acting general manager Owen Thomas confirmed the machine was yet to be used on patients, however, denied a dispute between staff was behind the delay.

The machine was undergoing tests ahead of the start of its operation next month, he said. 

“The MRI at Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital (WWRRH) is in the process of being commissioned and is planned for commencement in July,” Mr Thomas said.

“Current arrangements for MRI services remain in place.”

He said the hospital had hired three radiography staff, which were currently “undergoing training and familiarisation”. 

“The MRI services will be integrated into the overall operations of the WWRRH onsite medical imaging department,” Mr Thomas said.

“Recruitment of nursing and support staff is being finalised.”