Home / Health / 7-Year Wait for MRI: Woman 'Aghast' at Healthcare Delay
7-Year Wait for MRI: Woman 'Aghast' at Healthcare Delay
11 Mar
Summary
- A Halifax woman received an MRI appointment seven years after a specialist's requisition.
- The extensive wait for the MRI caused the patient to forget about the initial request.
- Nova Scotia Health stated such long waits are rare, affecting less than 80 patients over two years.
A Halifax woman was astonished to receive an MRI appointment seven years after a specialist initially sent a requisition for the test. Jessica Leslie found that by the time the appointment was offered, she had largely forgotten about the procedure. The lengthy wait for her pelvic MRI, initially requested in July 2019 due to increasingly painful cycles, led her to cancel the appointment to allow it to be used by someone more urgently in need.
Leslie noted that many women in her endometriosis support group have also experienced waits of five years or more, with some having to stop working due to pain. She questioned the triage process, wondering why some patients waited so long when others were seen sooner. Nova Scotia Health stated that extreme waits are uncommon and represent a small percentage of total MRI exams, with fewer than 80 patients having waited over five years in the last two years.
The health authority explained that specialized MRIs, like pelvic scans, often require specific equipment and radiologists with sub-specialty training, potentially impacting scheduling. They encouraged individuals concerned about their wait times or changes in condition to reach out. Leslie decided to publicize her experience to raise awareness about women's health conditions and the impact of prolonged healthcare delays.
