New Spectral CT Scanner at Southland Hospital Elevates Cancer & Cardiac Care

Southland Hospital’s imaging suite has entered a new era with the arrival of a detector-based spectral CT scanner that promises faster, clearer and more comprehensive diagnostic images for patients across Southland and Otago. Health Minister Simeon Brown, who toured the facility this week, called the scanner a “game-changer” that will “provide faster, more accurate diagnoses … meaning patients can start treatment sooner and with greater confidence.” (miragenews.com)

Why the upgrade mattered

The hospital’s previous scanner dated back to 2012 and was nearing the end of its useful life. Staff were already performing more than 500 scans every month, and demand was rising with the region’s ageing population. Replacing the ageing unit with a 2025-generation system doubles the processing power, shortens scan times by up to 30 per cent, and reduces radiation dose thanks to smarter energy modulation.

What detector-based spectral CT adds

Unlike conventional single-energy CT, spectral CT captures every X-ray photon’s energy level, then reconstructs separate “material maps” for iodine, calcium and fat. That means tiny differences in tissue composition—such as early-stage liver lesions or subtle plaque deposits—show up more clearly than on older scanners. Clinical reviews find spectral CT improves lesion conspicuity and reduces follow-up scans because radiologists can separate artefact from pathology in a single pass. (documents.philips.com, icliniq.com)

For oncology patients, the system’s dual-layer detectors allow more confident measurement of tumour margins and treatment response. Spectral CT can also flag renal-insufficient patients automatically, switching to low-contrast protocols that minimise kidney risk—an advantage praised in multiple cost-effectiveness studies. (usa.philips.com)

First cardiac CT service south of Dunedin

In a regional first, the scanner will deliver coronary angiography and calcium-scoring studies on site, eliminating the 220-kilometre trip to Dunedin that many heart patients previously faced. Cardiac CT can detect obstructive coronary artery disease with 95 per cent negative-predictive value, often replacing an invasive catheter angiogram. (eradradiology.com, my.clevelandclinic.org)

Radiographers and radiologists have begun a six-week upskilling programme with visiting cardiac-imaging specialists so the new service can open to referrals by late August.

Faster answers, closer to home

Spectral reconstruction software processes scans in under 60 seconds, meaning trauma patients from Fiordland or Queenstown can arrive by helicopter and have a whole-body CT completed and reported before surgeons scrub. The scanner’s 80 cm bore and wider table also accommodate larger patients and those requiring extra equipment, reducing the need for transfers to tertiary centres.

Economic and workforce benefits

While the hospital has not disclosed the purchase price, similar installations range from NZ $3–4 million including suite refurbishment. Officials estimate the scanner will repay that investment within seven years through avoided patient transfers, reduced repeat imaging, and earlier intervention in cancers and cardiac disease.

A boost to regional health equity

Minister Brown said the investment aligns with the Government’s pledge to cut diagnostic wait-times nationwide. “Access to modern diagnostic tools like this CT scanner is essential to improving outcomes for patients. By detecting disease earlier and with greater precision, we can help ensure people receive the right treatment at the right time.” (miragenews.com)

With Southland Hospital now equipped for both advanced oncology imaging and in-house cardiac CT, clinicians expect a measurable drop in wait-lists by early 2026—helping more families in Invercargill, Gore and Stewart Island get life-saving answers without leaving the region.