Community Referred Radiology Contract

The purpose of the CRRC is to provide citizens with appropriate access to xrays and scans without having to attend a public hospital.  This document provides referring practitioners details of the parts of the Community Referred Radiology Contract (CRRC) that are provided by CRG.

These include:

• Ultrasound scans (excluding maternity)
• CT Colonograms
• CT scans of other areas.

Bookings

To book these examinations under the CRRC, please use the specific CRR Referral Form. All completed request forms should be faxed to Central Referral Coordinator on 0800 555 266. 

Clinical Guidelines

Guidelines are now available on the Health Pathways site.  Note that some of the allowed investigations on that website may differ from what have been available previously.

For cases that do not fit into the guidelines, other management options to be considered include:

Referral to a hospital clinic for first specialist assessment.
Discussion about alternatives with a clinical specialist.
Private radiology referral to Christchurch Radiology Group (or other provider).

CT Scans

These may be for any area of the body, so long as a radiologist agrees the clinical justification. This could be either by the referrer phoning a radiologist or by the radiologist triaging the faxed referral form.

Acute CT Scans: There will be limited availability for acute scans referred by general practitioners (ie within 3 working days after receipt of the referral, and these will be for:

Acute renal colic, where symptoms require analgesia or there is evidence of urinary tract infection
Acute brain syndromes or severe headache where ongoing care is likely to remain in general practice.

Cases that are more acute may be able to be handled under the Acute Demand Contract.

Other Radiology Exams

Please note that MRI, Mammography, Barium Meals and Hysterosalpingograms, among other things, are not currently available under this contract. However CRG is more than happy to perform them on private referral.