4 June 2008
News release
As NZ Population Ages, Neurological Centre Of Excellence Opens In Auckland
A centre of excellence for neuro-imaging is about to launch in central Auckland to help care for the growing number of
New Zealanders suffering strokes, bad backs and other neuro-injuries.
Providing a unique service for patients and featuring the highest field strength MRI machine commercially available,
Trinity MRI is a new $4 million-plus medical imaging facility focusing solely on brain, spine and neuro-vascular
imaging.
The first centre of its kind in this country, it is owned and operated by Dr Maurice Moriarty and Dr Ayton Hope,
experienced neuro-radiologists who work at Auckland Hospital. It will officially open on Thursday, 5 June.
“Our initiative for starting Trinity MRI came out of a desire to offer patients state-of-the-art scanning technology in
a respectful and private environment,” they say.
“We want to provide the best service to the patient in the best possible environment.”
Dr Moriarty said the name Trinity naturally evolved out of their new approach to patient care. “It came from the three
Cs our facility provides - care, comfort and confidentiality.”
Trinity MRI has a 3T scanner, one of only four in New Zealand, which has been imported from Philips in the Netherlands.
The 7-tonne magnet is the strongest available for clinical use and offers state-of-art technology, generating higher
resolution images in shorter scan times – especially important for claustrophobic patients.
Dr Hope and Dr Moriarty see increasing demand for MR imaging given its acceptance into mainstream medical practice,
higher levels of patient expectation and a population which is not only growing but will increase in average age.
“Vascular disease and associated brain symptoms, including strokes, will undoubtedly increase in prevalence with the
population getting older.
“In addition, there are now strong pressures on employers and employees to diagnose and treat low back pain - a common
cause of incapacity - as early as possible.
“Combine these factors with an educated population which has ever-increasing access to information and it seems highly
likely that the field of diagnostic MR imaging will continue to grow,” said Dr Moriarty.
“That’s why we’re pleased to be offering this specialist imaging service which we believe is an important advancement in
health care for patients.”
Trinity MRI is situated at 96C Carlton Gore Road, about 400m from Auckland Hospital. The facility has 10 undercover car
parks. Bookings can be made on 09 522 0848 or via email: info@trinitymri.co.nz
The interior of the 400 sq m building has been architecturally designed by Stephen Jones of Salmond Reed Architects,
whose work includes the refurbishment of Auckland Town Hall and the Civic Theatre.
ENDS
About the Achieva 3.0T MRI: The ultra-high-field Achieva 3.0T system enables faster and higher-resolution scans,
resulting in superb image quality and potentially more accurate diagnoses. It can visualise fine anatomy, down to blood
vessels as small as 200 to 300 microns. In addition, patients appreciate its many comfort-related features. Because of
the level of detail it provides, the Achieva 3.0T can assist radiologists and physicians in the earlier diagnosis of a
variety of medical conditions, including brain and nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease and organ disease.
The wide patient opening, fast scanning times and accuracy all contribute to a patient-friendly design.