Additional MRI scans are being carried out at Dunedin Hospital on Saturdays in a bid to cut back the waiting time for non-urgent scans from 107 weeks to 30.
Group manager for diagnostic and support services Sonja Dillon said these sessions were expected to continue until Labour Weekend, which would enable 250 extra patients to be seen.
The demand for MRI scans was increasing, both in the number of referrals and their complexity.
The number of acute and semi-urgent outpatient and inpatient scans required meant the booking schedule had been amended in May, resulting in fewer available non-urgent scans and pushing the waiting time for non-urgent MRI scans to 107 weeks.
Reducing the backlog by having staff work on Saturdays was an interim measure rather than a sustainable solution because it required staff to work additional hours, Ms Dillon said.
Since the establishment of the Southern board, referrals for patients living in Southland had been forwarded to Southland Hospital, which has increased the waiting time for a non-urgent MRI scan there from four weeks to 10 weeks.
Ms Dillon said capacity in Southland was limited, also primarily because of the availability of clinical staff.
Non-urgent referrals included those for long-standing chronic pain, some musculoskeletal conditions and migraine.
At Dunedin Hospital about 250 MRI scans are done each month.
Ms Dillon said the issue of timely access to MRI scans, particularly for non-urgent referrals, was an international one and not unique to the southern region.
A review of the delivery of the service at Dunedin Hospital had been completed and a report was being prepared.
