Emma Pritchard

The welcome addition of a new MRI machine at Clarence Valley Imaging in Grafton is providing patients with access to the latest medical technology within their local community.

Valued at over $3 million, the machine is the only fully digital broadband MRI available in the state, and is bigger and more spacious than earlier models, affording patients more comfort during their appointments.

Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said he was privileged to visit Clarence Valley Imaging on December 20 to view the state-of-the-art MRI machine and meet staff including Dr Andrew Hooper and MRI technicians Rachna Sharma and Rohan Ford, who happily shared recent positive feedback from patients with their local MP.

“This new MRI machine produces three dimensional anatomical images of the highest quality which essentially provide clearer, more precise results for specialists, and for our patients,” Dr Hooper explained.

“We are extremely lucky to have an MRI machine of its capabilities which is more easily accessible to regional patients.

“It’s extremely sophisticated, and the images we are able to see are of a higher, clearer quality compared to previous MRI machines we have used on the premises.

“It allows us to better examine soft tissue.

“It’s been operating for the past several weeks, and everyone who has used it has been quite impressed with it.”

While MRIs can take between 20 and 90 minutes to be completed depending on the area of the body being scanned, the new machine at Clarence Valley Imaging encompasses the latest technology which allows it to take images within a shorter timeframe.

Mr Gulaptis also acknowledged staff at Clarence Valley Imaging for the terrific services they provide to their local community and said the addition of the new MRI machine will help to make life easier for a lot of people.