Lakes District Hospital welcomes CT scanner

Diagnostic services at Lakes District Hospital are enhanced with a state-of-the-art CT scanner, now installed and operational.

The Siemens Go Top 128 slice scanner, which is part of the upgrade to the Lakes District Hospital, is the second of its type to be installed in New Zealand and the first in a public hospital. 

“The new scanner means that many people will not need to travel for a CT scan,” says Lakes District Hospital Medical Radiation Technologist, Elisabeth Key.

“It also allows for a faster diagnosis, which gives our medical officers the ability to make appropriate choices for patients in a timely manner.”

The scanner, which cost approximately $1.07 million, was generously funded by a Central Lakes Trust grant to the Lakes District Hospital Foundation.

“I’d like to acknowledge and thank the Central Lakes Trust for this significant contribution,” says Southern DHB Chief Executive Chris Fleming. “Their vision to enhance the community and the lives of the people within this region will continue to flourish with this crucial service.”

Along with enhanced diagnostic services, the Lakes District Hospital upgrade has included an emergency department expansion, more than doubling the capacity of the previous department.