Health New Zealand has responded to a month-long wait time for a woman's ultrasound results, indicating the problem involved staff shortages, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The health agency said results should have been provided within seven to 10 days for the New Plymouth patient -- a radiographer -- who was advised by her general practitioner (GP) that she needed a “semiurgent” pelvic ultrasound, the Herald explained. The radiology department at Taranaki Base Hospital was reasonably prompt in scheduling the scan, but the Herald reported there was "deafening silence" afterward.
“Worst-case scenario I could have a ticking time bomb,” the woman told the Herald, adding, "I was told unofficially there was only one radiologist up there. I don’t know if that’s one radiologist for the whole hospital, I would assume not."
The woman’s results eventually arrived at her GP's at the end of February and while she had not been able to discuss them face-to-face, a copy of the report had been forwarded to her, stated the Herald.
Taranaki Base Hospital reportedly has a radiographer shortage. Health New Zealand advised GPs that if a patient experienced a change in their clinical condition while waiting for results, the GP should call the duty radiologist directly to speed up delivery of reports, according to the Herald.
