Chief executive Chris Fleming said 1107 patients were waiting for a routine MRI, and 519 patients were waiting for a CT scan. Of the CT scan patients, 82% were Dunedin Hospital patients.
In his written response to questions under the Official Information Act, Mr Fleming said increased demand for acute CT scans in Dunedin led to long waits for routine scans.
The MRI service had been affected by a lack of trained staff at Southland Hospital, and disruption caused by replacing Dunedin Hospital's sole MRI machine.
Average wait times were much shorter - 58 days for a routine CT scan, and 82 days for a routine MRI.
The figures were drawn from hospital data on May 1.
Mr Fleming said Dunedin was providing support for Southland's MRI service, and more staff were being trained for Southland.
In Dunedin, the board planned to increase CT operating hours, and wanted to refer more scans to the other sites with CT scanning such as Oamaru and Dunstan.
Related Stories
Comments
In the case of detected, unruptured, brain aneurysm, non operative care (patient choice), is by Observation. Obs scan by MRI periodically. I imagine Obs scans are classified 'routine', as they are not as acute as brain bleed. If you live with cerebral aneurysm, a splitting headache may indicate time to present at Neurology.
(This info is patient experience, not professional advice).
Are DHB patients being sent to the MRI scanner of Otago Radiology, Marinoto Clinic?
No, they are not, is the info from a GP practice. Being private, Marinoto does scans for a fee.