QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Terence Kernaghan is demanding answers from the provincial government today as average wait times for pediatric MRIs at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) hit a staggering 299 days.
“Having a cancer scare, especially for a child, is a terrifying ordeal for any family to go through,” said Kernaghan. “At LHSC right now, kids are waiting an average of almost 300 days just to get an official diagnosis after a cancer assessment, which is critical time for starting treatment and support. Kids can’t wait for these times – and families can’t afford to go elsewhere for private treatment.”
The average wait time for a pediatric MRI at LHSC is currently 299 days – by far the highest in the province, where the second highest wait time is 194 days. Children should be seen within 28 days for the best chance at treatment and recovery for priority 4 assessments.
“It’s hard to imagine the level of stress and anxiety parents and children are enduring in London while they wait almost an entire year without a diagnosis,” said Kernaghan. “This government is breaking our health care system, and their ideas for privatizing health care are just making things worse. We must be using every tool available to make sure our publicly-funded health care system is strong and available to everyone. Kids can't wait”.