Grim New Data Shows 18,000 patients waiting longer than 42 days for CT or MRI Scans

New data released by Health New Zealand this week shows that by June 2025 over 18,000 patients were waiting more than 42-days for CT or MRI scans. This includes 8724 patients waiting for a CT scan, including 2258 in Waitemata District, and 9347 patients waiting for an MRI scan, including 2784 in the Wellington region.

The 2025 Vote Health budget introduced two new metrics of performance for Health New Zealand under the Hospital and Specialist Services appropriation for 2025/26: requiring districts to scan and report 65% of patients within 42 days of referral for both MRI and CT scans.

The statistics were released under the Official Information Act to APEX, the union representing over 1500 Medical Imaging Technologists (MITs) and 350 sonographers. In August APEX released a report on HNZ’s radiology services, Broken Scanners, Exhausted Staff, painting a grim picture of the under resourcing of public radiology services.

This more recent OIA data shows 7 of 19 districts were not meeting requirements to scan and report over 65% of CT scans in May 2025.[1] It also shows 13 of 19 districts were not meeting requirements to scan and report over 65% of MRI scans in May 2025.

“Across New Zealand medical imaging technologists, clinicians and patients are worried about Health New Zealand’s lethargic response to the radiology crisis. Despite attempting to engage with senior managers of hospitals such as Queenstown, Wellington, Taranaki and North Shore to improve resourcing and support, we are not seeing prompt action to fix the radiology crisis,” said Dr Deborah Powell, APEX national secretary.

“Management tell us they are developing a plan, but no one has sought the input of our union, as representatives of the workforce.”

“We are seeing no additional resourcing being released to support medical imaging teams, while requests for support are being refused. It would be fair to say, many of our members now believe that senior managers do not understand the serious impact this crisis is having right now on medical imaging technologists or patients,” concluded Dr Powell.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Dr. Deborah Powell
APEX National Secretary
Phone: 021 614 040
Email: secretary@apex.org.nz