POAC Funded CT Scans
POAC Radiology — Auckland | Counties Manukau | Waitemata
Referral criteria for POAC funded CT scans.
Principles of funding
POAC will fund the CT investigations below where all of the following apply, in line with the National Community Referred Radiology (CRR) Criteria:
- It is safe to manage the patient in the community, and
- Required within 24–48 hours, or the patient would otherwise be sent acutely to ED, and
- The condition is not related to trauma or accident (unless specifically outlined below), and
- All CT scans require pre-approval and coordination by POAC
CT Head
Within 48 hrsPOAC WILL fund CT Head where:
- TIA, where it is within 7 days of the TIA episode, and:
- CT +/− CTA recommended by HNZ neurologist / stroke specialist or physician, OR
- Patient has no high-risk features and is assessed as suitable for being managed in the community, AND completion of the BPAC TIA decision support tool indicates CT head +/− carotid imaging is appropriate, OR
- Patient is unable to access rapid specialist care
- Focal neurologic signs – consider seeking neurologist advice first
- Seizure in palliative care setting and result may change management
- Secondary care clinician, Primary Care Radiology Liaison (PCRL) or radiologist advises referral for same or next day CT scan
All injury-related Head CTs are excluded
Head injury requires ED referral and is funded under ACC, not POAC.
Refer Auckland Regional HealthPathways
See the CT Head page for full criteria, guidance, how to request, and neurology advice contacts.
CT KUB
Pyelonephritis
Within 24 hrsPOAC WILL fund CT KUB where:
- Patient has flank pain that does not improve despite 24 hours of intravenous, or 48 hours of oral, antibiotics
- Consider requesting CT KUB instead of renal ultrasound if renal colic is being considered as a differential diagnosis
Suspected renal colic
Within 48 hrsPOAC WILL fund CT KUB where:
- First presentation of suspected renal colic with no red flags
- Secondary care clinician, Primary Care Radiology Liaison (PCRL) or radiologist advises referral for same or next day CT scan
Refer Auckland Regional HealthPathways
How to refer
Option 1. POAC PMS system – generate a new referral via the PMS POAC form using the relevant diagnosis code, and email the radiology request to referral@poac.co.nz. Ensure a contact phone number is included for both the referrer and the patient. OR
Option 2. Online radiology form – submit the referral directly online. This reaches the POAC coordinators directly. No need to phone or email.
What happens next – POAC will coordinate the booking and contact the patient and referrer with details.
See Radiology referral process →
Contact POAC referral@poac.co.nz · (09) 535 7218
What can be claimed
CT is invoiced directly to POAC by the radiology provider (XR/CT/US required within 48 hours only). Review consultations may be claimed separately. Refer to the guide for claiming information.
Last reviewed: 8 September 2026
Important note: all POAC referrals and claims are subject to the applicable terms and conditions of use.
Principles of funding:
POAC will fund the following community CT scans:
Where required within 24-48 hours, AND
It is safe to manage the patient in the community, AND
The result of the ultrasound will inform immediate clinical management, AND
The condition is not related to trauma or accident (unless specifically outlined below)
All POAC funded radiology is aligned with the National Community Referred Radiology Criteria - see here
For information on how to submit a referral to POAC, see here
CT Head within 48 hours
CT KUB within 48 hours