- The Crisafulli Government delivers new $4 million PET/CT Scanner at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
- Digital scanner will improve efficiency and deliver higher image quality outcomes for patients at the PA Hospital.
- Crisafulli Government abolishes Labor's Patient Tax to reduce cost burdens of health care for Queenslanders.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services, with two key measures introduced this week in a major win for patients.
The first is the installation of a brand new $4 million PET/CT scanner inside the Princess Alexandra Hospital, replacing a device which was installed 13 years ago.
PET scanners are a valuable tool for diagnosis, staging and restaging of multiple cancer conditions, with the new device to benefit all patients referred to the service across oncology, haematology, urology, neurology, and cardiology.
The state of the art scanner comes after the Crisafulli Government stopped Labor's Patients' Tax, allowing more Queenslanders to visit their GPs, reducing cost of living pressures and easing the pressure on emergency departments.
Legislation has now passed through Parliament to stop the imposition of the tax on GPs, that would have unnecessarily driven up costs for families visiting their local doctor.
After a decade of Labor government, the State's hospitals were left with huge backlogs in essential maintenance, record ambulance ramping and record surgery waiting lists.
The Crisafulli Government is navigating the mountain of health challenges left by Labor and delivering a fresh start for Queensland with a plan to treat, diagnose and cure Labor's Health Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government has already delivered its Open Hospitals website, providing transparency for patients, and announced a $100 million boost to deliver more elective surgeries.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said abolishing Labor's Patients' Tax will stop families paying more to see the doctor and ease pressure on our stretched hospital system.
"We have delivered what GPs were calling for, to stop Labor's Patients' Tax," Mr Nicholls said.
"Labor created a health crisis under their watch, but the Crisafulli Government has shown it's on track to deliver on its commitment to diagnose, treat and cure the sick health system in Queensland.
"The Crisafulli Government is delivering a fresh start for Queensland and through its Easier Access to Health Services is delivering practical measures like our $100 million commitment to reducing the surgery waiting list through its Surgery Connect Surge.
"Another practical solution to improving patient outcomes is the new cutting-edge Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner now installed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
"The advanced technology produces higher quality images than ever before, that can be taken in a shorter amount of time, with a reduced radiation dose compared to the older technology.
"Having this access closer to home, through local hospitals and health facilities, will improve the experience for patients and their families."
PA Hospital Nuclear Medicine Technologist James Turner said PET CT scans first began at PA Hospital in 2011.
"Back then we performed five scans per day on average," said James.
"Fast forward to 2025, and the team of technologists, radiographers, medical staff, nurses and administration staff now work together to perform up to 24 scans each day for different clinics across the hospital.
"Now, we're expecting that number to increase with the digital PET allowing for faster scans, which means care for even more patients.
"We're very excited to have this new machine at the PA Hospital, but we're even more excited for the benefits it will bring to our patients."
