The government announced a new health plan to boost scans. Photo: 123RF
A union representative said there are a lot of questions to be answered regarding the government's new health plan to boost scans but it will make a difference to people's lives.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said a $65 million funding boost for scans, colonoscopies and other diagnostic tests will mean faster treatment for patients.
APEX is a specialist union representing the health professionals who carry out those test. Its national secretary Dr. Deborah Powell told Morning Report that the funding would shorten the wait lists and throughput in hospitals.
She said the extra 75,000 diagnostic procedures promised by the minister was realistic as long as the plan could be implemented promptly and various moving parts could be coordinated.
"It's also making sure that our training pipeline is up to scratch and that we have the people to run those machines productively," Powell said.
"At the moment, too many of our machines are only working 9 to 5 Monday to Friday because we don't have the staff to run them seven days a week and that's just not good enough. That's why we're not getting through waitlists.
"We need to make sure that the staffing plan matches up with the infrastructure and machinery plan."
Powell said trainees also needed to be getting employed to release more experienced people to help with training in CT and MRI.
"We do believe we can do it, but we do need all of Te Whatu Ora to be getting in behind this and linking the dots," she said.
In relation to radiology, Powell said more details are needed for the indicated 20 more CT scanner and 10 more MRI machines.
"We're not sure yet how many are replacements and how many are new, and we don't know when they're coming or where they're going to be, so there's an awful lot of questions there yet to be answered."
However, in the other areas such as colonoscopy, colposcopy, cardiac sonography, the key was more about getting the right work force for the jobs, Powell said.
Powell added the funding boost is going to make a difference to the whole healthcare system, with people getting quicker first specialist appointments, treatment, and shorter time in ED.
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