Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates has introduced a motion to reduce MRI wait times in Niagara.
Gates’ Private Member’s Motion is intended to address lengthy wait times for MRI's in the region.
“Today we took an important step towards ensuring Niagara residents have timely access to quality health care,” said Gates. “I was happy to debate this motion and I hope to see support from the other two parties on this issue.”
The motion calls on the Ontario Government to immediately take the necessary steps to work with and enable the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network to address current wait times for MRI in the Niagara Region which far exceed the provincial average.
The motion was spurred by Niagara residents who brought the issue of high MRI wait times to the attention of Gates’ Niagara Falls constituency office.
Gates’ motion calls on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to immediately address the longer than average wait times for MRI services in Niagara.
“No resident in Ontario should be forced to wait 100, 200 days to receive an MRI—an important medical procedure,” said Gates. “It’s time the provincial government made quality health care a priority. We as Canadians pride ourselves on our health care system, but the current state in Niagara is nothing to be proud of—we must do better for the people of Niagara and reducing MRI wait times is a good place to start.”
Gates previously met with representatives from the NHS to discuss strategies for a reduction in wait times for Niagara residents seeking MRI services.
“We appreciate our partnership and everything MPP Gates does to support healthcare in Niagara and his constituents,” says Niagara Health President, Suzanne Johnson.