St. Catharines – The Ontario government is investing $155 million over two years to add fifty-seven new community surgical and diagnostic centres licensed to deliver MRI and CT scans, and gastrointestinal endoscopy services across the province. The expansion will help 1.2 million people access publicly funded procedures faster and is part of the government’s plan to invest in and protect Ontario’s health-care system.
Following a Call for Applications, GNMI Medical Imaging in St. Catharines has been approved to provide expanded MRI and CT scans services with two new additional licences, doubling the number of MRI machines in Niagara from three to six and increasing the number of CT scanners from five to seven.
“This expansion of diagnostic services in Niagara will help more patients and families across Niagara connect with the critical health care they require, reducing wait times closer to home,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“Our government is taking important steps to protect and renew our health system for today and years to come.”
The expansion of MRI and CT scan services at GNMI Medical Imaging in St. Catharines is part of thirty-five newly licensed centres that will deliver MRI and CT scans across the province, connecting up to 828,000 more people over two years to vital diagnostic imaging – more than four times the province’s original goal. This expansion of services will reduce wait times and ensure patients receive scans within the medically recommended timeframe in regions where the centres will operate.
“When it comes to wait times for surgeries and procedures, the status quo is not acceptable,” said Hon. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
“That is why our government is taking bold, decisive action to protect Ontario’s health-care system by boosting access to vital surgeries and diagnostic imaging so that families can conveniently access the care they need sooner. By licensing fifty-seven new community surgical and diagnostic centres across Ontario, we are reducing wait times and ensuring more people can receive timely care in their community, for years to come.”
“Bringing this expanded service to St. Catharines means more people will be able to access diagnostic imaging closer to home,” said Bill Phillips, Deputy Mayor of the City of St. Catharines.
“This expansion will help ease the burden on patients, while ensuring care can move forward when it matters most.”
As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is taking action to protect Ontario by reducing surgical and diagnostic backlogs to make it easier and faster for people to connect to publicly funded surgeries and procedures, when and where they need it.
The expanded community surgical and diagnostic centre is located at the Greater Niagara Health and Wellness Centre at 464 Welland Avenue in St. Catharines.
Founded in 2013, GNMI Medical Imaging is a leading medical practice and fully approved diagnostic provider that has become one of the largest medical imaging clinic networks in Ontario.