ABA
23/02/2012 13:05
ASSET
REL: 1305 HRS Abano Healthcare Group Limited
ASSET: ABA: Abano Announces New $4 million Millennium Radiology Clinic
Listed healthcare provider, Abano Healthcare Group, has today announced the
development of a new $4 million specialist radiology clinic in the AUT
Millennium Campus, on Auckland's North Shore.
The new Millennium radiology clinic, which is planned to open in June 2012,
is a joint venture between Ascot Radiology, which offers a full range of high
quality imaging, and Insight Radiology, which provides a specialist
ultrasound and obstetric service. Abano has majority shareholdings in both
businesses.
The AUT Millennium Campus is home to the Millennium Institute of Sport and
Health, and High Performance Sport NZ. It consists of specialist buildings,
swimming pools and track and field facilities, and is dedicated to helping
New Zealanders excel in sport.
Over the past year, the AUT Millennium complex has undergone a $43 million
expansion and has been transformed into the National Training Centre for High
Performance Sport. In line with this, it provides world class facilities and
support services, including specialised medical and healthcare support.
The new radiology practice will be located in the Millennium Campus and in
close proximity to the clinical rooms of a number of leading orthopaedic
surgeons, including Matthew Brick, and Auckland Bone and Joint group, with
many clinical obstetricians also located nearby.
It will open with an array of new technology and equipment, including
Australasia's first GE second generation wide-bore 3T Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI) scanner. This cutting edge scanner improves the accuracy of the
image, allowing for better diagnosis, and has more room inside the scanner
tunnel, providing for a more comfortable patient experience.
Also on site will be a number of 3D and 4D Ultrasound scanners, a plain film
x-ray suite and mammography, with an earmarked extension for CT to be
installed within the next two years.
The existing Insight Radiology clinic in Takapuna will relocate to the
Millennium practice, where it will continue operations in an expanded
obstetric clinic which will be closer to major referral groups. The move
will also allow Insight's clients to have onsite access to the new
mammography and MRI suites, which will allow other radiology studies to be
undertaken that were previously referred elsewhere.
Managing director of Abano, Mr Alan Clarke, commented: "The AUT Millennium
Campus is impressive and provides an ideal fit for Abano's specialist
diagnostic radiology businesses.
"We are very pleased to announce this second organic expansion of our
radiology group, following the successful opening of our PET-CT Cancer Centre
at Ascot Central last year. The development of this new clinic at the AUT
Millennium Campus not only brings together two highly respected and
complementary specialist radiology businesses, but opens up a whole new
specialist referral market for us.
"This investment is in line with our strategy to grow our presence in this
sector through co-ownership with our radiologist partners and we will be
looking to expand this partnership in coming months. We expect this new
business to provide a new, reliable and fast growing income stream for
Abano."
ENDS
End CA:00219938 For:ABA Type:ASSET Time:2012-02-23 13:05:59