Health Minister Simeon Brown claims the improvements will reduce waitlists and give patients faster access to treatment. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The government has announced the upgrade of Christchurch Hospital's cardiac catheterisation laboratory is now complete and open to patients.
Health Minister Simeon Brown and South Island Minister James Meager said it marked a major milestone in the delivery of world-class cardiac care.
Brown said the project delivered three state-of-the-art labs for Christchurch Hospital, which provided the South Island's only electrophysiology and complex structural heart intervention services.
"One upgraded with new equipment in 2021, a second upgraded earlier this year and now the completion of a brand-new third lab."
"This upgrade ensures that lifesaving interventions, such as acute stenting for heart attacks and advanced electrophysiology treatments, can continue well into the future with the latest technology."
"With a third lab in place, the hospital can maintain capacity, even if one lab needs to be closed for maintenance. At the same time, the expansion has boosted insourcing capacity, with an extra three sessions over 1.5 days now being delivered each week.
"These additional sessions are already helping to reduce waitlists and provide patients with faster access to treatment."
The health minister said the new facilities also delivered significant clinical improvements.
"Advanced imaging and diagnostic technology provide greater precision for complex procedures, while reduced radiation exposure improves safety for both patients and staff. Streamlined systems mean procedures can be carried out more efficiently, enabling more people to be treated in less time."
Meager said the completion of the upgrade was fantastic news for South Islanders.
"Patients and their families can have confidence that the specialist care they rely on is being delivered with the latest technology, greater capacity and improved resilience."
"People from Nelson to Invercargill will benefit from faster access, better outcomes and the confidence that the South Island has the facilities it needs to deliver cutting-edge cardiac care."
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