Community backs push for hospital CT scanner
Mossman petition
A more than 2300-signature petition calling for a CT scanner to be installed at Mossman Hospital, as well as other service upgrades, was last week presented to the Queensland Clerk of the Parliament.
Organiser Penny Haberfeld, of Cooya Beach, said the petition was well supported by Douglas Shire, and a similar petition resulted in a CT scanner being installed at Ayr Hospital following a community campaign.
“I am trying my level best,” Ms Haberfeld said this week.
“I don’t want the community to lose impetus.”
Cook MP David Kempton said he personally dropped off the petition at Parliament House while in Brisbane.
“The Mossman Hospital CT scanner petition was delivered to the Clerk of the Parliament last week,” Mr Kempton posted online.
“Just as I promised.”
The petition, which is now expected to be tabled in parliament this month by Health Minister Tim Nicholls, includes calls to install a CT scanner so more X-rays and other procedures can be done locally; the return of maternity services, and; improved cancer treatment including introducing chemotherapy.
Ms Haberfeld said the primary aim first was to secure the CT scanner, while also raising awareness about the need for the other two services in the region.
She had not heard whether there had been any movement on the question of maternity services, but cancer treatment at the hospital was improving thanks to fundraising efforts by community groups such as Pink in the Tropics, which had been raising money for equipment such as infusion chairs.
The petition was circulated in August to a range of locations including medical centres New Horizons For Health and Port Village, Port Douglas and Mossman libraries, Live Life pharmacies in Mossman and Port Douglas, and Whileaway and Temptations cafes.
