A recent upgrade to the CT scanner at Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospital will allow more patients to receive their medical assessments locally.
The scanner now has the capability to scan patients up to 300 kilograms, scan brain perfusions and perform cardiac CT scans.
Perhaps most importantly, the upgrade has also improved patient safety by significantly reducing the radiation dose delivered during each scan.
Now online and in use, the upgrade work occurred over a two week period last month, during which time the imaging service was offline.
Hospital general manager Dr Elizabeth Harford said the hospital understood the importance of residents being able to receive their care locally.
"For us, that includes ensuring patients have fast access to diagnosis and treatment through our medical imaging service," she said.
"The improved capabilities of the upgraded CT scanner help ensure we can accommodate the imaging needs of more of our patients."
The hospital's imaging team have been trained in the use of the upgraded device, however patients are advised that some processes may be slower than usual as staff continue to familiarise themselves with the new system.
"I'd like to acknowledge the great work of our medical imaging department and thank our community for their patience during this upgrade process," Dr Harford said.
