Great to have the Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, MP in Cairns today announcing a significant upgrade to health services in our region. The Crisafulli Government will install a new CT scanner and MRI machine at the Edmonton health facility, delivering on a key election commitment and ensuring local families can access essential diagnostic imaging closer to home.
For too long, residents in Cairns South have been forced to travel or wait for critical imaging services. With the population booming across the corridor from Gordonvale and Edmonton through to the Cassowary Coast and Yarrabah, demand has surged.
Over the past two years alone, the Cairns and Hinterland region has seen a 23% increase in CT scans and an even larger 49% increase in MRI demand.
Adding a second MRI and third CT scanner will reduce bottlenecks, relieve pressure on Cairns Hospital, and help clinicians deliver faster, more effective treatment.
Alongside the new imaging capacity, the Health Service is exploring ways to bring mammography services in-house, reducing reliance on private providers and offering greater certainty for women needing breast screening. Having mammography located alongside CT and MRI means patients will be able to access multiple diagnostic services in one place—an enormous benefit for busy families and those managing ongoing health concerns.
This project forms part of a $267 million statewide health plan, aimed at easing waitlists, strengthening frontline services, and ensuring Queenslanders get care when they need it. The Cairns South Health Facility has been designed with population growth and disaster resilience in mind, allowing more outpatient clinics to relocate there and creating a genuine community health hub.
The new diagnostic imaging suite is expected to open in 2027—a powerful step toward building a stronger, healthier future for Cairns South.
