New ultrasound service improves access for northern area patients
From next week patients in the northern part of the Capital & Coast DHB district will for the first time be able to access ultrasound scanning at Kenepuru Community Hospital.
The new service is the latest in a continuing series of service improvements, which C&C DHB has made at Kenepuru Community Hospital in Porirua. Until now the DHB’s patients have had to travel to Wellington to get their scans.
Ultrasound scans are used to identify many conditions; including the causes of abdominal pain and urinary symptoms, and the evaluation of blood vessels.
The new service, which is being launched in conjunction with Pacific Radiology, will initially be available for inpatients at Kenepuru, before being extended to include both inpatients and outpatients.
Clinical Director of Kenepuru, Dr Gerry McGonigal, said the service would be of great benefit to those in the northern half of the C&C DHB district.
“Ultrasound scanning is an essential part of our radiology service and to have this available at Kenepuru will be a great asset to the many people in Northern Wellington, Tawa, Porirua and on the Kapiti Coast, who will no longer need to travel to Wellington for their scans,” Dr McGonigal said.
“These scans are vital to investigate a number of common complaints – so the easier we make it for people to access them, the better.”
The service will be available on the mornings of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Kenepuru Radiology Service. There is the possibility of extending these hours if demand is high.
Patients will still need a referral for the scan in the usual way.
