Christchurch Hospital receives special donation

Christchurch Hospital receives special donation

A medical imaging company has donated a special machine that is the first of its kind in New Zealand and will help enhance services offered at Christchurch Hospital.

Hologic Inc, a medical imaging and diagnostics company, has donated a specialised medical imaging machine, worth $100,000, specifically designed to provide ultra-fine detail images of small bones such as those in hands and feet during surgery.

Hologic New Zealand Sales Manager Kathy Blennerhassett says before the February 22 earthquake the company was about to discuss a possible trial of a Hologic Fluroscan InSight™ mini C-arm at Christchurch Hospital.

After hearing about the earthquake Kathy approached Hologic’s head office and suggested offering the equipment to the hospital.

Much to her excitement, she was given approval to donate the Mini C-arm to Christchurch Hospital.

“I am really delighted that we’ve been able to support Christchurch Hospital and the people of Canterbury,” she says.

“The machine will be of great assistance at a time when demand for orthopaedic surgery has been significant as a result of many small bone injuries sustained during the recent earthquake.”

The imaging equipment is a first of its kind in New Zealand.

Christchurch Hospital Plastic Surgery Department Clinical Director Dr Barnaby Nye says both he and his colleagues have wanted the machine for a long time.

“The resolution is so much better than any of the machines we have at the moment. It enables us to be more certain in our management of a fracture,” Dr Nye says.

“It also has the ability for surgeons to operate the machine in the event that radiology staff are busy with other cases.”
The relatively small size of the machine also means it can easily be positioned, which is another big advantage, he says.

Christchurch Hospital Radiology Department Service Manager Frank Connor says the machine is not something the Canterbury DHB would have normally purchased because it’s so specialised and it was an expensive item.

To have it donated is more than they could have asked for and the plastic surgeons are thrilled about the value it will bring to patients, Mr Connor says.

“It’s quite an exciting time. While we have a lot of brilliant equipment, this will be like having a Ferrari as it’s so niche and specialised. It will particularly benefit patients who have crush injuries to extremities like their hands or feet,” he says.

ends

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