Katherine Hospital patients will soon have access to state-of-the-art medical imaging and CT scanning onsite at Katherine Hospital.
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The NT Government awarded a tender for the project to a local company after almost a decade long fight to have a scanner located here.
CT scans can be used to diagnose everything from strokes and cancers to head injuries and blood clots.
The new scanner is scheduled to begin service early next year.
At the moment, a CT scanner is only available at a private clinic and some patients are forced to travel to Darwin to seek treatment.
Back in 2010, Dr Modher Al-Shawi wrote a paper on the need for a CT scanner at Katherine Hospital.
Dr Al-Shawi said patients with a head injury should be scanned no more than eight hours after the injury is inflicted.
“In rural settings, this presents significant challenges in terms of assess to diagnostic and interventional services,” Dr Al-Shawi said.
His study showed during a two month period in Katherine, seven patients were sent to Darwin for a CT scan following a traumatic head injury.
The tender to construct, fit-out and deliver ongoing medical imaging services was awarded to Katherine Diagnostic Imaging.
Katherine Diagnostic Imaging will construct and fit-out the space at Katherine Hospital through a sub-contract with local company Atkin Building.
This is the first time Katherine Hospital will be able to offer such services onsite.
The $4 million project is expected to start by the end of the month.
Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson said: “The tender has been awarded to a local company and this means jobs for local tradies.
“Katherine Hospital has never been able to offer these services onsite before, so this will be a real game changer for Katherine healthcare providers and patients.
“The awarding of this tender brings this project – this $4 million investment in Katherine – a step closer, which is great news for our town.”
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