Retired doctor recommends Edge Plus CT scanner for Kincardine hospital

To the Editor:

I have been retired from medicine almost 10 years now. To hear that Kincardine is finally getting a CT scanner is amazing news.

This is the first decision by the South Bruce Grey Health Centre board of directors in 21 years, to bring a new service to Kincardine. This will expedite critical decision-making for the medical staff and be of great benefit for patients.

The difference between the Edge Plus and the Drive, in terms of ability to diagnose, is only five per cent. That means, the Edge Plus can do 95 per cent of everything we need.

Since Walkerton has the Drive, and is part of our hospital (not our competitor), we can access that machine when needed.

The Edge Plus is a better machine than is available in downtown Toronto, London, Kitchener, Hamilton or Ottawa.

The additional cost to purchase and maintain the Drive, instead of the Edge Plus, would be well over $1-million. We need to look at the big picture.

There is a $60-million refurbishment to our hospital planned in the next few years. Our community’s portion will be $9.6-million.

The municipal council plans to deplete its health care reserve by $500,000 for the extra cost to purchase the Drive. For the small increased capability of the Drive, at substantial additional cost, I must recommend the Edge Plus.

Dr. Donna Taylor
Kincardine