Island Health plans to perform 3,160 more MRI scans over the next three months as part of a provincial initiative to reduce wait-lists — but more than half of the publicly funded diagnostic tests will be provided by private clinics. “Between now and March 31, we anticipate about 55 per cent of the additional MRI volumes will be contracted while we work to build additional internal capacity,” said Island Health spokeswoman Suzanne Germain.

Health Minister Terry Lake said 90 per cent of people wait up to 256 days — more than eight months — for an MRI.

The magnetic resonance imaging scans are used to examine everything from brain tumours to joint problems.

In November, the province unveiled a four-year plan to boost the number of annual MRIs by 65,000 at a cost of up to $20 million by year four.

Island Health is to receive $3.8 million by year four. The health authority projects it will perform 41,730 MRI scans a year by 2019.

The plan relies on increasing operating hours of MRI machines by adding more radiologists, nurses and technicians to perform the scans.

Island Health said it has hired the equivalent of 4.6 MRI technicians for the south Island and 2.2 full-time-equivalent for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

“Health authorities may also contract private facilities to perform additional procedures,” the province said.

Island Health’s additional MRI scans will bring the total this fiscal year, ending March 31, to 30,863.

In Nanaimo, 900 of about 1,380 additional scans in that region will be done by Nanaimo MRI, a private clinic.

An additional 900 MRIs will be done by Vancouver Island MRI, a private clinic in Courtenay.

The NDP has said the additional resources are welcome but has railed against the government’s decision to use private clinics rather than building up the public system.

The rest of the extra scans to be done by March 31 include about 480 in Nanaimo Regional, 340 at Royal Jubilee, 340 at Victoria General, and 50 by each mobile unit at Cowichan District, West Coast, St. Joseph’s, and Campbell River hospitals.

Premier Christy Clark and Lake acknowledged in November that patients were waiting too long for the medical scans.

As of Dec. 3, there were 12,776 people on Vancouver Island waiting for an MRI. Of those, 8,551 have a scheduled date, Island Health said.

From early October to early December, the median wait time for completed routine MRI exams was 202 days, Germain said.

She added that wait times vary across the Island, citing a 104-day wait at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

Since November, the Health Ministry and health authorities have been reviewing governance, service delivery and funding models for MRIs “to ensure an accessible, sustainable medical imaging system.”

“Obviously, it takes time for us to be able to ramp up internal capacity, hire additional staff, etc.,” Germain said in an email.

The increased volumes are great news for patients, and their families, waiting for tests which can, in some cases, produce lifesaving information, she said.

13 Jan 2016 Times Colonist CINDY E. HARNETT ceharnett@timescolonist.com