Radiology services

There are two radiology departments within Nelson Marlborough which provide a range of inpatient and outpatient services to the region.

Radiology Services

The provision of these services is supported by 10 radiologists based at Nelson and a visiting radiology service at Blenheim provided by Christchurch Radiology Group (CRG).

Both Nelson and Wairau sites have a team of medical radiation technologists (MRTs), sonographers, nursing staff who provide assistance in interventional or specialist procedures and office staff.

Nelson Hospital has a team of Radiographic Assistants who provide internal departmental support and orderly services.

Any approved referrer can initiate a radiology request. This would normally be in the form of a completed request form, which can be delivered in person or electronically the radiology department. On receipt of the request an appropriate time for the examination will be arranged dependent on the degree of urgency indicated on the request i.e. urgent, semi-urgent, routine.

The referrer must ensure that the following information is included as part of the radiology request:

Patient data

• Full patient name (spelled correctly)
• Date of birth
• Location e.g. ward, private, OPD etc
• Patient's address and contact phone number 
• Name of referrer/consultant
• NHI number
• Any mobility considerations 

Clinical details

• Relevant clinical history
• Examination(s) requested

General access to MRI Scanning and Interventional procedures is through the consultant medical staff only. Referral should be made through the appropriate consultant.

General access to some CT studies can be made via the Health Pathways, all others need to go through consultant medical staff.

All referrals are vetted and prioritised. The requested examinations may be declined or an alternative modality chosen at the radiologists discretion.

At both sites the department offers an appointment based system for GP or community requests, though pathways exist for direct referral of urgent cases. Depending on the examination, outpatient work is performed on an appointment or walk-in basis.

Wairau Radiology also hold the Southern Cross Affiliated Providers contract for Nuclear Medicine and CT examinations. If you want to know if your examination is covered at Wairau Radiology, please phone the department.

Hours

Nelson 8am-5.30pm Monday-Friday
Wairau 8am-4.30pm Monday-Friday

At Wairau hospital these examinations are performed by a technologist who has received specialised training.

A range of ultrasound services are available at both sites including, general abdominal, small parts, obstetric, gynaecological and vascular ultrasound. In Nelson routine obstetric scanning is contracted to the private radiology practice, Nelson Radiology Ltd. Echocardiography is provided at both hospitals, though in Nelson the Cardiology Department provides this service, and in Wairau the Medical Department provides this service.