Radiology services in Albany to improve

09/10/06
Radiology services at Albany Hospital will be significantly improved under a contract to operate new state-of-the-art medical scanning equipment.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said a new $900,000 computed tomography (CT) scanner installed at Albany Hospital recently would provide faster and more detailed scans on patients with cancer and other illnesses.
"The new 16-slice CT scanner provides a much higher quality image and therefore a far better diagnostic reliability than anything Albany has had in the past," Mr McGinty said.
"The 16-slice CT scanner enables radiologists to simultaneously capture 16 wafer-thin images of an area in the body within seconds.
"Using the latest computer technology, the images from the new CT scanner can produce three-dimensional visualisations of internal organs and structures, allowing doctors to accurately diagnose patients and treat them quicker.
"Instead of spending 30 minutes undergoing a scan, patients will be scanned in just 10 minutes, which will significantly reduce waiting times."
The new equipment also means that fewer patients will need to travel to Perth because a wider range of examinations will be available.
Unlike the old single slice scanner, which was slower and less accurate, the new 16-slice machine can perform arthrograms, dentascans and brain perfusion examinations.
Tenders for a new radiology service contract at Albany Regional Hospital have been called and should be finalised soon.
In the interim, a locum specialist is providing radiology services at the hospital.
The Minister also said suggestions that Albany's radiology services would be reduced under a new contract were nonsense.
"The new contract will incorporate all of the clinical radiology services that were provided under the previous contract with SKG," he said.
"The range of examinations and the standard of clinical radiology services available in Albany will actually improve with the new CT scanner in full operation."
Minister's office - 9422 3000