POAC Radiology for Auckland Region
POAC Radiology Services
Radiology Services – POAC Funding Guidance
POAC Acute Services:
POAC funding is available to support access to community-based radiology services to avoid acute hospital referrals.
This service is intended for investigations required usually within 24–48 hours, that will directly assist with clinical management decisions.
Appropriate for urgent investigations that, if delayed, may result in an ED presentation or hospital admission.
Common examples include suspected DVT, acute abdominal pain, or chest X-ray following a respiratory assessment.
Non-Acute / Less Urgent Scans:
Scans that are not acute and time-critical and do not meet POAC criteria should be referred via standard pathways:
Access to Diagnostics (ATD)
Hospital Outpatient Radiology e-Referral
ACC (where applicable)
Private funding options
This includes routine and non-acute X-ray/USS/CT.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) Investigations:
Visit www.poac.co.nz/aub for full details.
POAC will coordinate and fund the ultrasound for patients who reside within the Counties Manukau District only.
Referral guidance:
Auckland: Use e-Referral or Access to Diagnostics (ATD)
Waitematā: Use e-Referral to request an outpatient radiology scan
Note: The timeframe for scan completion is similar across all referral pathways.
Exclusions:
The following are generally excluded from POAC funding:
ACC or injury-related investigations, except:
If referred by St John or the Emergency Department and require acute radiology
Suspected DVT: POAC will coordinate the scan and cover the ACC co-payment only. All other costs should be submitted under ACC.
Portable X-Ray: Referred by Aged Care Facility or Hospice for non-mobile patients (ACC co-payment funded)
Routine maternity scans, except:
Suspected ectopic pregnancy (acute; to avoid ED attendance) – requires SMO endorsement
Retained Products of Conception (RPOC) – may be coordinated by POAC, though still under maternity funding
Under the Counties Manukau Health Urgent Maternity Scan service: POAC supports clinically urgent scans in the community due to limited capacity at Middlemore Radiology
More information: www.poac.co.nz/maternity
How to Refer
Review radiology access criteria and submit online referral below or email your PMS-generated radiology request.
Radiology Criteria
Maternity
Hospital Radiology Contacts
Seek radiology advice about the appropriate imaging to help:
manage the patient.
clarify the interpretation of prior imaging.
avoid unnecessary specialist appointments or emergency department referrals.
Phone:
Auckland 027 491 9589 or (09) 307 2800
Counties Manukau (09) 276‑0044 ext. 53462
Waitemata 021 874 664 or (09) 486 8920 ext 42771
Access to Diagnostics - Practice Funding Limits
If the practice is currently over budget, consider the following:
Explore the patient's ability to pay.
If imaging is indicated as part of discharge planning or follow-up from previous abnormal results from the hospital, select the "imaging requested by hospital provider" checkbox on the ATD ProExtra form and proceed with the request. (This will be considered when the practice's budget utilisation is reviewed.)
If the imaging is not urgent, put the patient on in-practice waiting list and issue the imaging request the following month.
If imaging is required more urgently and your practice is not "hard floored" or "on notice", proceed with the ATD ProExtra request. Document why the imaging is required more urgently.