THERE are calls for the region’s MRI machines to be better equipped to treat children after a Hamilton child battling a rare form of cancer was placed on a six-month waiting list.
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Four-year-old Ivy Steel is fighting a rare form of leukaemia and was given a referral for an MRI scan in July.
But her family was told the next available time was in January next year at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne.
“We were told that the earliest appointment would be in January. It was still going to be a six-month waiting list because their backlog was so extensive,” her mother Jenna Steel said.
Late diagnosis of the leukaemia in June 2013 and heavy chemotherapy treatment that followed left Ivy’s body battered. She now requires an emergency scan.
The only other MRI service able to see children regularly, at Monash Health, was also unavailable until early next year. Other MRI machines around the state were also unavailable.
Ms Steel said regional MRI service providers needed to be able to see children.
“There should be some offer made to utilise the MRI services around to relieve pressure on the Royal Children’s Hospital,” Ms Steel said.
“Children aren’t treated in the country any more, what about country people?
“We do have private healthcare but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. For children it’s all the same, it doesn’t matter who you are.”
Ms Steel said the family managed to find an appointment at the RCH next week with the help of Ivy’s oncologist and nurse co-ordinator.
Western District MRI director Craig Lightfoot said equipping MRI services to treat children was a significant challenge. The company operates one of Warrnambool’s two MRI machines at St John of God private and other machines in Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne.
“I absolutely understand the mother’s frustration behind it,” Mr Lightfoot said.
He said equipping MRI facilities to cater for children would need a “six-figure” investment, with a specialist radiologist, special paediatric coils, anaesthetic equipment and a paediatric-trained MRI technician required to produce the best quality scans.
“Medicare doesn’t cover all the intricacies properly,” he said.
“If the government gave us a grant to put paediatric services in Warrnambool, we would do it.
“We can see some children in Warrnambool — it’s these very young children, four-year-olds and down with special conditions that need focused expertise.”
