Waitaki District Health Services Limited

Press Release Page 1

Waitaki District Health Services Limited

PRESS RELEASE

August 16, 2017

Big Boost in CT Scans at Oamaru Hospital

Oamaru Hospital has had a huge increase in the number of CT scans it is funded for, meaning far fewer Waitaki people will have to travel to Dunedin.

Previously, the hospital was funded for two scans a week, totaling 104 a year. This has now jumped to 12 scans a week, equaling 624 a year, following negotiations between the hospital’s owner and operator, Waitaki District Health Services Limited (WDHSL), and the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) which led to a new five year contract between the two organisations for the provision of health services in the Waitaki district.

WDHSL chairman Chris Swann said the increase would have a major impact on those people who previously had to travel to Dunedin for scans.

“It is great news for health services in the district,” he said.

It also met one of the recommendations in the recently completed Model of Care for Waitaki health services – providing more services closer to home.

Mr Swann said more Waitaki patients having scans in Oamaru would mean a lot less stress for them and their families.

“More patients will no longer have to contend with travel for their scans, which can be extremely uncomfortable in some cases. Family and friends who provide support will also benefit because it will save time and costs to travel for the procedure.

Scans are limited to procedures appropriate to the Oamaru’s scanner capability, but it would provide a greater level of service to the Waitaki community that had not been previously available.

Press Release Page 2

The Siemens Somatom Emotion 16 slice CT (computed tomography) scanner at Oamaru Hospital was bought in 2008 by the community through the Waitaki District Health Services Trust, including a donation of $1 million from the late Mr Sid Hurst, a Lower Waitaki farmer. It was installed as part of a $1.8 million upgrade of the radiology department.

Oamaru Hospital was only the second rural hospital in New Zealand to have a scanner.

NOTE: Waitaki District Health Services Limited is a company owned, on behalf of the community, by the Waitaki District Council as a Council Controlled Organisation. It provides health services to the Waitaki District and owns and operates Oamaru Hospital under a five year contract to the Southern District Health Board.