A new state-of-the-art $1.3 million MRI machine at Rotorua Hospital will allow a wider range of scans to be carried out - and may result in fewer children being put under general anaesthetic.
The new scanner is the most advanced MRI technology available in New Zealand, and has been described by Lakes District Health Board head of radiology and radiologist Dr Carl Huxford as one of the most exciting things to happen in the department in the past decade.
Dr Huxford said the quality of the imaging and efficiency of the imaging was cutting edge.
Because of the new technology they will now be able to use the machine for prostate cancer, which the previous MRI machine was not capable of doing very well.
In the past, patients had to go to Tauranga for MRIs.