Princess Alexandra Hospital in Annerley has installed a new $4 million medical scanner, replacing a 13-year-old device. The state government has also eliminated a tax on visits to local doctors.
Improved Hospital Technology
The new Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) medical scanner at the Princess Alexandra Hospital represents a significant upgrade in diagnostic technology. The machine, which cost $4 million, will assist doctors in diagnosing, staging, and restaging various conditions, particularly cancers. It will benefit patients across oncology, haematology, urology, neurology, and cardiology departments.
The hospital’s nuclear medicine technologist stated that the hospital used to perform five scans per day in 2011 and now performs approximately 24 per day, and anticipates this number to increase due to the new machine’s faster scanning. The new scanner offers higher-quality images, faster scan times, and a reduced radiation dose compared to the previous model. The hospital staff are pleased with the new equipment and its potential to improve patient care. The new scanner was installed this week.
Changes to GP Fees
In addition to the new scanner, the state government has passed legislation to remove a planned tax on visits to general practitioners. The government stated that this decision was made to reduce families’ financial burden and alleviate pressure on hospital emergency departments. The government criticised the previous Labor government’s record on healthcare, citing issues such as maintenance backlogs, ambulance ramping, and surgery waiting lists.
The current government claims it addresses these issues through initiatives like the Open Hospitals website, a $100 million boost for elective surgeries, and removing the GP tax. The Minister for Health and Ambulance Services stated that they have acted on the requests of GPs by eliminating the tax.
Community Impact
The improvements at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the removal of the GP tax are expected to impact the Annerley community and surrounding areas positively. The new scanner will provide faster and more accurate diagnoses, while removing the tax will make healthcare more accessible. The government claims these changes demonstrate its commitment to improving healthcare services for Queenslanders.
Published Date 25-Feb-2025
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