The Tomaree Community Hospital and Health Centre is now home to a new CT machine.
The Computerised Tomography (CT) machine means that patients can receive a scan on site rather than needing to be transferred to another facility within the Hunter New England Health District.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack announced the arrival of the machine ahead of the expansion of imaging services at the new hospital.
“CT scans are vital for diagnosing medical conditions such as strokes, brain bleeds, and traumatic abdominal soft tissue injuries,” she said.
“Completion of the HealthOne upgrade at Tomaree Community Hospital has meant that there are now dedicated spaces for both the new CT, and X-ray machines in the new imaging area.
“From 1 July this year, both x-ray and CT will operate at Tomaree Community Hospital and Health Centre as public-run services.
“A new full-time radiographer will also be employed to support the new service.
“This important investment will provide acutely and chronically ill patients of the Tomaree community, and the large number of seasonal visitors, access to local, state of the art imaging technology.”
Images will be electronically available in the patient’s medical record, allowing clinicians at any hospital within Hunter New England Health to review the results.
This means that patients requiring transfer to an acute hospital for treatment, can have their results reviewed, and care plan prepared prior to their arrival to the new facility.
“Again, I want to pay tribute to Hunter New England Health and the incredible frontline staff at Tomaree Community Hospital for their visionary work through these difficult times – ensuring we come out of this pandemic stronger and with world-class health services for the people of Port Stephens,” she said.
