X-rays are available at Rotorua and Taupō hospitals. An x-ray is a high frequency, high energy wave form. It cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be picked up on Digital X-ray detectors. Although you may think of an x-ray as a picture of bones, a trained observer can also see air spaces, like the lungs (which look black) and fluid (which looks white, but not as white as bones). What to expect? You may be required to change into a hospital gown for certain X-ray procedures. You will be asked to remain still in a specific position and hold your breath if required. There are staff present, but they will not remain in the room, they will be viewing the procedure constantly through a windowed control room. The examination time will vary depending on the type of procedure required, but as a rule it will take between 15-30 minutes.

CTs are available at Rotorua and Taupo hospitals. CT scans produce three dimensional (3D) X-ray images using radiation. CT gives a clear picture of your body and can help doctors identify injury or diseases within the body. It provides more detailed information about your body than a plain X-ray. The CT scanner looks like a large donut - it is circular in shape. Patients are asked to lay on the table which will then move in and out of the CT scanner to acquire pictures. Staff and family members will not be allowed to stay in the CT scanning room, for safe practice. What to expect... There are many types of CT scans. You will be provided with instructions for your CT scan when your booking is made. On arrival you will be greeted by a radiology staff member who will explain your scan. appointment times vary, on average please allow 30 minutes for your CT scan. There could be a delay on your appointment time, as we also scan emergency and inpatients on our CT scanners. Some CT Scans may require contrast. When the radiology staff inform you that you require CT contrast, they will go through an explanation and questionnaire, to ensure you understand. CT contrast highlights all your organs, vessels and body parts and assists the doctors reporting your images to make a diagnosis. Radiology staff will talk you through the procedures for the CT scan and will be happy to answer any questions related to your scan.

MRI is available at Rotorua Hospital Only. What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging? MRI scanning technique that uses a strong magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses, producing images of different areas of the body in great detail. What to expect? Anyone entering the magnet room must be safety checked. Before your scan can go ahead you will be asked to fill in a safety questionnaire. This will include questions about your medical history and any previous surgery. If you have any surgical implants, please bring any information you have been given about the implant(s). You will be asked to remove any jewelery, money, keys, wallets, pens, mobile phones and any other items which contain metal. You may prefer to leave these items at home. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Once you have undergone the safety check you will be taken into the magnet room and positioned on the MRI scanners bed. When the MRI scan is being undertaken it is noisy. You will be given headphones to wear with an intercom system. You will be given a "squeeze" ball to use if you wish to be removed from the scanner. It is important that you hold completely still while the MRI images are being taken. You may be requested to follow some breathing instructions. How long will the scan take? The scan time depends on which part of the body is being scanned. Generally, most body parts take 30mins to be scanned. Some examinations may require you to have an injection of contrast agent to help gain specific information, and/or Buscopan to reduce bowel motion. If you require either of these for your scan the staff member looking after you, on the day of your exam, will go over the relevant information and explain this further. Please allow 90 minutes with us to allow for variations. Can I bring a support person into the scan room with me? Yes, but for safety reasons we place heavy restrictions on who we allow into the area. Please discuss your needs with the staff member looking after you. When will I get my results? The results of the scan will be sent to your specialist. You will be contacted by them unless you have made other arrangements.

Ultrasounds are available at Rotorua Hospital only. In ultrasound, a beam of sound at a very high frequency (that cannot be heard) is sent into the body from a small vibrating crystal in a hand-held scanner head. When the beam meets a surface between tissues of different density, echoes of the sound beam are sent back into the scanner head. The time between sending the sound and receiving the echo back is fed into a computer, which in turn creates an image that is projected on a television screen. Ultrasound is a very safe type of imaging; this is why it is so widely used during pregnancy. Doppler Ultrasound A Doppler study is a noninvasive test that can be used to evaluate blood flow by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off red blood cells. The Doppler Effect is a change in the frequency of sound waves caused by moving objects. A Doppler study can estimate how fast blood flows by measuring the rate of change in its pitch (frequency). A Doppler study can help diagnose bloody clots, heart and leg valve problems and blocked or narrowed arteries. What to expect? After lying down, the area to be examined will be exposed. Generally a contact gel will be used between the scanner head and skin. The scanner head is then pressed against your skin and moved around and over the area to be examined. At the same time the internal images will appear onto a screen.