Palmerston North Hospital currently relies on a single loaned CT scanner with limited capability. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
An announcement that Palmerston North Hospital will get two new CT scanners comes as medical unions warn the government of a dire shortage in radiographers nationwide.
Radiographers are the medical-imaging technologists who, together with radiologists, read CT and MRI (whole-body) scans to diagnose and treat patients with injuries and serious diseases, like cancer.
On Saturday afternoon, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the $12.7 million investment for Palmerston North hospital, saying it would "double scanning capacity and significantly improve access to diagnostic services across the region".
"This is a major step forward for Palmerston North and the surrounding communities," he said. "It means faster diagnoses, shorter wait times and earlier treatment for people with serious conditions like cancer."
The two new scanners would replace one ageing machine and the second would expand the hospital's capacity by about 3000 extra scans per year.
"Doubling CT capacity means more timely scans and less stress for patients, with workforce planning already underway to support the expanded diagnostic service," Brown said.
The hospital currently relied on a single loaned CT scanner with limited capability, which contributed to delays in emergency, inpatient, and elective care.
"In some cases, patients must be transferred to other hospitals or private providers for scans," Brown said. "With greater scanning capacity, we'll ease pressure across the system - reducing ED delays, supporting planned surgeries and enabling faster diagnoses for time-critical conditions.
"It will also reduce the need to outsource scans, ensuring patients are seen sooner and closer to home."
The modular CT unit would begin operation in February and provide care for up to eight years, while a permanent imaging hub was developed as part of the hospital's wider redevelopment.
Allied Scientific and Technical Health Practitioners union (Apex) national secretary Dr Deborah Powell said the new machinery would be well-received.
Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the new $12.7m investment on Saturday. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
"The current CT scanner in Palmerston [North] is very old and breaks down frequently," she said. "Quite frankly, they're holding it together with band aids, so we certainly needed the replacement.
"A second one obviously will help us put patients through more quickly, that's including guys in ED, as well as cancer treatment and other acute presentations.
"That's good news for the people of that region. The one questions we would have is where's the workforce to run it?"
Powell said New Zealand was desperately short of radiographers to operate the scanners.
"They don't grow on trees, so I'd be delighted to see the minister's plan. I'm not aware that Te Whatu Ora has a workforce plan for the radiology services.
"They acknowledge we do have a workforce crisis, but a plan to fix it has been a bit elusive to this point in time."
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the senior doctors' union and Apex only asked about radiology planning nationally last week.
"Particularly staffing, because there are significant gaps."
She said there were "significant issues around radiology staffing at Palmerston North", and the unions had called for reporting of national workforce planning and regional situations, which they were still waiting for.
"While resource being put into new machinery is really important and we would welcome that, without appropriate levels of staffing, it is not going to be a simple fix."
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