Taranaki now has two CT scanners operating in the region

Clinical directors Dr. Dana Tipene-Hook (left) Dr. Maren Krueger.

Taranaki residents will benefit from a second CT scanner in the region.

A new computed tomography (CT) scanner is now at the New Plymouth Taranaki Radiology rooms, after being delivered last week.

The second CT scanner for the Taranaki region was placed at Taranaki Radiology, the hub of many medical centres and specialist rooms in New Plymouth.

The scanner, which lets doctors see any part of the body in greater detail than a standard x-ray, will be up and running by next week. At full capacity, more than 100 people per week can be accommodated.

Clinical directors Dr Dana Tipene-Hook, Dr Maren Krueger and Dr Alina Leigh say after months of planning and preparation it is great to finally have the scanner here in Taranaki.

"We're fortunate that several of our team have CT expertise so once the scanner is fully installed and tested we can begin seeing people straight away," says Dr Tipene-Hook.

"We've had a great response to news of the new scanner from referring doctors. We are particularly excited about the low radiation dose imaging available for some of their patients," she says.

Software on the new scanner facilitates the lowest radiation dose possible, equivalent to a standard x-ray exam in some instances.

"This machine is an investment for the people of Taranaki and forms an important part of our strategy to provide the highest quality equipment and service for our community," says Dr Tipene-Hook.

The new equipment also offers a back-up to the only other CT Scanner in Taranaki, in New Plymouth at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Manufactured in Germany, there's a long lead time and a lot of groundwork work required behind the scenes to arrange for arrival and installation of the scanner.

"We're very motivated to improve the access to state of the art technology to support the wellbeing of the population of Taranaki," says Dr Tipene-Hook.

■ Taranaki Radiology Ltd, established in January 2016, has clinics in New Plymouth and Stratford.