X-RAY services have been reintroduced at the New Norfolk Hospital on a part-time basis. Standing in for Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne, Lyons MHA Rebecca White re-opened the x-ray department on Thursday morning. “I know there has been strong support from the local community and local GPs for x-ray services to be reinstated at this hospital,” Ms White said. “The State Government has listened to those calls and we have acted by providing a wonderful new x-ray service for the local community.”
Ms White said the facility, which includes a new digital x-ray machine, would reduce travel for local patients. “This new service will use existing facilities and skills to improve services for patients in the New Norfolk area. We can also expect to see a reduction in the use of ambulance services for these routine health procedures.”
Ms White said the local x-ray department had closed in 2008. “It has been possible to reintroduce these services because of our investment in the statewide Radiology Imaging Service/Picture Archive Communication System, known as RIS/PACS,” she said. This system allows transmission of digital images and reports to the Royal Hobart Hospital’s department of medical imaging for analysis.
Services will be available three days per week for basic x-rays including abdominal and chest x-rays. It will be available to both New Norfolk Hospital inpatients and the community.
