Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) is offering petrol vouchers to patients in the Greater Wellington region to travel to Whanganui for MRI scans, a move officials say is helping to reduce waiting times. The initiative, which provides $150 fuel payments, has been running for several months and has seen 288 patients seize advantage of the offer, according to Jamie Duncan, Group Director of Operations for Health NZ Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.
The scheme aims to address significant delays in MRI access within the Wellington region. Duncan stated that waiting times had fallen from approximately six months in September to three to four months currently. While acknowledging the target wait time is six weeks, he indicated the program is contributing to a “trajectory” towards that goal. “It’s having a significant impact in improving access locally,” Duncan said.
The use of petrol vouchers has drawn criticism from the senior doctors union, who have suggested the scheme could create a two-tiered system where those with the means to travel receive faster access to diagnostic procedures. Although, Duncan refuted this claim, explaining that the program is designed to free up capacity at local MRI scanners for patients unable to travel. “We’re providing support for people that have the ways and means to access the scans in Whanganui,” he said. “What it does do is it frees up capacity locally on our MRI scanners for those people who aren’t in a position to travel.”
Health NZ operates seven public MRI machines in the central region, including two at Wellington Hospital and one at Hutt Valley Hospital, with Whanganui representing another access point. Duncan likewise highlighted other efforts to improve access, including outsourcing to private providers, increasing radiology staff within the public system and scheduling weekend shifts.
The initiative comes as Wellington Hospital faces ongoing challenges with overcrowding in its emergency department. A detailed business case published by Health New Zealand last year described the ED as “clinically and culturally unsafe,” with reports indicating a third of patients were being treated in corridors. Duncan addressed concerns about patient safety in the ED in a recent interview, stating that staff are vigilant and consistently monitor patients.
Health New Zealand will not proceed with a proposed trial to reallocate unresourced maternity and gynaecology beds at Wellington Regional Hospital, after considering feedback from stakeholders, according to a statement attributed to Jamie Duncan.
