CT SERVICE EXPANDED IN CYPRESS HEALTH REGION

Residents of Swift Current and the surrounding area have access to a new computerized tomography (CT) scanner.

Health Minister John Nilson today joined key health region officials and community supporters at the official opening of Cypress Regional Hospital's new CT suite.

"This is an excellent example of a successful partnership between government, Cypress Health Region, a health care Foundation and the surrounding community," Nilson said. "It provides people in southwest Saskatchewan with more convenient, stable CT service, and affirms our commitment to improve access to vital health services for all residents."

The initiative marks a significant expansion to diagnostic services in Saskatchewan, a key recommendation in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care. The new scanner is one of three the government has purchased for the southern part of the province. The others will be located in Moose Jaw and Yorkton.

Cypress Regional Health Authority Chair Dennis Lafreniere said the new scanner fills a need that was identified as a priority not only by government, but by the region, its health professionals, and the public.

"Permanent CT service not only serves our patients well by providing this important service closer to home," Lafreniere said. "It also makes our regional hospital a more attractive, stable workplace, and encourages specialists to locate here. In every sense, it's good for southwest Saskatchewan."

Saskatchewan Health contributed just over $700,000 toward the cost of the scanner and associated renovations, and an additional $262,000 was contributed by the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation.

"We are pleased and proud to be a part of a project that will do so much to improve the lives of patients on a daily basis," Foundation CEO Lyn Johnston said. "We appreciate the continuing investments made by our donors which enable us to meet our mandate of improving the quality of health care for the people of southwest Saskatchewan."

The scanner will be able to conduct approximately 3,500 scans annually. More than 70,000 scans are done each year in Saskatchewan. CT scans enable physicians to take cross-sectional images of bones, muscles and organs that are more accurate than a general X-ray.

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For More Information, Contact:

Kimberly Kratzig Health Regina Phone: (306)787-2743

Bryce Martin Cypress Health Region Swift Current Phone: (306)778-5117