Canberrans can now access public medical imaging outside a hospital setting with the opening of a Medical Imaging Service in Weston Creek.
Welcoming the new service, Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the imaging service was located at the Weston Creek Community Health Centre.
“This provides a great connection to the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre and an alternative for non-urgent patients to access CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays without needing to go to hospital,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The opening of the new imaging service will mean the hospital service can focus on more urgent and complex patients,” she said.
“It will help to reduce outpatient waiting lists and reduce waiting times for those with more complicated health care needs, including patients staying in hospital.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said bookings for CT, ultrasound scans and X-rays could be made through the usual medical imaging booking system at Canberra Hospital, with appropriate consumers being referred to the new Weston Creek Imaging Service.
She said consumers over the age of 16 with a referral from a GP or specialist could walk in and get an X-ray at the Weston Creek Imaging Service if an on-the-spot appointment was available.
“Another feature of the new service is the Aboriginal artwork wrapping the CT scanner. ‘Namadgi Sky’ was created by Canberran and Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi artist Lynnice Church,” the Minister said.
“This a beautiful piece of art that creates a more patient-centred experience during an uncomfortable time,” she said.
“Instead of being surrounded by a clinically plain machine, you are taken on a visual journey of ‘Namadgi Sky’.”
