Worrying waiting lists for CT scan results

The list of patients waiting for their CT scan results in one health district has increased ‘‘out of control’’, which a leaked email shows is ‘‘obviously a massive risk’’.

A CT (computerised tomography) scan is a diagnostic procedure that uses X-rays and computer technology to produce images of inside the body. A radiologist interprets the pictures and sends a report to a doctor, who in turn explains the results to a patient.

An internal email sent last week by Waikato’s radiology clinical unit leader, seen by Stuff, showed the district was facing a CT reporting ‘‘crisis’’.

A staffer, who did not want to be identified for fear it would impact their career, said that would delay patient care and cause ‘‘further issues down the track’’.

The email said Waikato was unable to send many outpatient cases to its usual external provider as they ‘‘do not have the reporting resources’’.

‘‘As a result, our outpatient CT reporting list has increased out of control (over 350) despite us reducing outpatient scanning.

‘‘This is obviously a massive risk and we discussed possible options for how to manage it.’’

The email said the district would have to cancel all radiology meetings this week – including multi-disciplinary meetings, to discuss treatment plans for cancer patients – to allow for CT reporting.

Te Whatu Ora Waikato district co-director Chris Lowry said Waikato used ‘‘significant’’ outsourcing capacity to support CT scanning and reporting, amid a national and global ‘‘challenge’’ to recruit radiologists.

Lowry said the issue of private providers experiencing increased staff illness and reduced capacity was identified and ‘‘escalated’’ last week.

Waikato is not the only district outsourcing CT reporting.

Canterbury district chief of radiology Dr Sharyn Macdonald said it had ‘‘long-standing’’ contracts with a private provider, which accounted for 36% of its outpatient CT reporting – 14% of its total CT volumes.

Waitaha Canterbury Radiology had to reduce the number of clinical meetings and non-clinical administration work ‘‘for a short period’’ in July due to Covidrelated staff absences. All meetings were now operating as usual.

Joy Farley, the director of provider services for Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley districts, said all CTS were reported in-house, with some non-acute outpatients outsourced to a private provider.