MRI equipment good news for heart patients

5 December 2006

Specialised cardiac MRI equipment good news for heart patients

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s (HBDHB) Specialist Radiology Services are the grateful recipients of a cardiac array coil, purchased by a $175,000 donation from The Lion Foundation.

The array coil and associated software is used on Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s MRI scanner and used in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Around 28,000 Hawke’s Bay people are at risk of heart disease and it’s the biggest killer of Hawke’s Bay people.

Head of radiology, Dr Iain Morle says the new equipment means radiology staff can now assess and diagnose patients in a non-invasive way and the quality images produced show a high level of detail.

“This is the gold standard technique for measuring heart health,” he said. “Having this equipment means we can make earlier and more accurate diagnosis for conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and congenital heart disease.

“For our patients it means we won’t need to send them to Auckland for their scans as we have the tools and expertise right here,” says Dr Morle.

HBDHB is hosting a Heart Symposium on Friday 8 September, where cardiologists and radiologists from around New Zealand will gather to share knowledge about the latest developments in cardiac imaging and treatments.

“Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s Specialist Radiology Services would have to be one of the best-equipped departments in a secondary hospital in New Zealand,” Ian Morle said. “The donation of the CT scanner last year and cardiac array coil this year have certainly made a big difference.

“The generosity of the Weem Trust and The Lion Foundation really is helping us provide better healthcare right here in Hawke’s Bay. We have reduced the need for people to travel for many diagnostic scans and procedures. This is great news for people with serious diseases,” Dr Morle said.

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