More than 10,000 additional MRI and CT scans should be delivered each year for Hawke’s Bay patients, enabling faster diagnoses, following the completion of Stage 1 of the radiology upgrade at Hawke’s Bay Hospital. 

Health Minister Simeon Brown says: “Previous radiology facilities were outdated and unable to meet current or future demand. This refurbishment doubles the MRI and CT imaging capacity, ensuring faster, more reliable diagnostic services for patients.”

The first stage of the $35.8 million upgrade has delivered:

• An additional 808m² of floor space to accommodate new equipment and patient areas
• A second MRI, providing 4000 – 6000 extra scans per year
• A second CT scanner, doubling CT capacity with 6000 – 10,000 extra scans annually
• A replacement CT scanner

The first patients are scheduled to be scanned on 17 November for both the new MRI and CT machines.

The new MRI has a more spacious opening, making scans more comfortable and accessible for all patients, while the second CT scanner allows emergency imaging to continue without delay for patients needing planned scans, enhancing the hospital’s resilience.

The facility has also been designed to maximise efficiency.

Radiology staff can now prepare patients and provide post-scan care in dedicated spaces. This streamlined workflow allows more scans to be completed each day, meaning shorter wait times for diagnosis, urgent care, and elective treatment.

The $1.3 million third endoscopy room is also set to open later this month, further strengthening the hospital’s diagnostic capacity. With two rooms currently delivering around 4,200 procedures a year, the addition of a third will increase capacity to nearly 6,800 procedures – an additional 2600 – including colonoscopies, gastroscopies, and other essential diagnostic tests.

Remaining stages of the radiology refurbishment project:

• Stage 2 (finishing next week): Upgrades the main doors, sets up a temporary CBCT room, and refurbishes the conference room.
• Stage 3 (Nov 2025 – Jun 2026): Builds a new fluoroscopy space, relocates and upgrades the CBCT room, adds a shower in Nuclear Medicine, and creates new radiologist, management, MIT, and staff areas.
• Stage 4 (Jul 2026 – Nov 2026): Converts the former fluoroscopy area into a nurses’ base and bed bay.
• Stage 5 (Dec 2026 – Aug 2027): Upgrades and relocates reception, waiting areas, and utilities, and builds a new procedure room and a Nuclear Medicine clinic room.

Hopefully at some point Hawke’s Bay will have sufficient GP and specialist referral capacity and Hospital staff to utilise all this hardware in a timely manner!