John Barilaro was today joined by deputy premier Troy Grant and parliamentary secretary for Regional Health Melinda Pavey to announce the funding for the first CT (Computed Tomography) scanner to be installed at Queanbeyan Hospital.

The scanner combines special X-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images of the inside of the body, and will assist Queanbeyan Hospital staff to diagnose a range of trauma injuries, chest and abdominal abnormalities and some cancers. It provides greater clarity and gives a radiologist more detail to interpret scans of the body which often lead to quicker and more successful diagnosis of many diseases.

Work is expected to commence to install the CT scanner in mid-2015 with the NSW Government investing $736,664 to purchase and calibrate the new CT equipment.

 “The CT scanner will assist clinicians in the diagnosis of a range of medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and vascular diseases along with spinal and orthopaedic abnormalities,” Mr Barilaro said.

“Community access to CT services will be improved with Queanbeyan Hospital being able to offer a bulk-billed routine outpatient service, meaning our hospital will soon be home to a comprehensive public diagnostic imaging service. 

“There are multiple clinical benefits in having CT services closer to home. Not only does it assist in the diagnosis for stroke patients but it can reduce the length of stay for acute and rehabilitation patients due to early diagnosis and treatment,” Mr Barilaro said.

The hospital’s health services manager, Kim Bradshaw, said the scanner would add to the service Queanbeyan Hospital can provide to the town.

“The hospital was actually built with one of these in mind, and we’re now getting one,” she said. “It will save patients having to cross the border to Canberra for scans, which is a great result.”