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AIDAN'S DIARY - SEPTEMBER 2003Trish and I answered the call to the official unveiling of the new MRI scanner at Princess Margaret Hospital. It was a relatively low-key affair attended by a handful of parents, hospital staff, government health bureaucrats and media. The new hospital director related, in general terms, the pain and frustration caused by a 10 year wait for a piece of equipment that appears to be standard in every other major children's hospital around the country. There was the issue of relocating children, some in near critical condition, 5 kms by ambulance to the nearest MRI scanner at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital ... and the issue of transporting doctors, nurses and anaethetists ... and the issue of minimal padaetric care in the event of any complications ... the list goes on. The state government, after reaching perpetual loggerheads with the federal govenment over the issue of funding, finally opened it's purse and decanted 2.3 million dollars. The running costs will be covered by annual donations from people in the state, until such time as an operating license (and funding) is allocated by the federal government. Of course, the full story may never be known as the political bickering often obscures the underlying issues. Quite a patethic situation, really. The hospital director pointed out, quite rightly, that having the scanner available now is "better late than never". The current state health minister babbled and smiled the greasy smile reserved by politicians and others well versed in media relations. He babbled and recanted a well rehearsed speech. Children now and into the future will benefit from the new facility. We know all too welll the anguish of being denied access to a very necessary facility.Perhaps others will be spared our fate. - Dad 27 September 2003 10 months - Dad 28 September 2003 As an extension of the Kids Cancer Support Group (KCSG) web site, the Bereaved Parent Group (BPG) web site was launched today. - Dad
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