The former contractor, Mid North Coast Diagnostic Imaging, held the contract for 25 years.

A spokesperson for MNCDI says 14 full time equivalent staff members who were employed within the hospital imaging department will be re-deployed.

Across the region MNCDI employ 93 staff members at Port Macquarie, Forster, Gloucester, Kempsey, Laurieton, Taree and Wauchope.

"It is our intention to re-deploy all of the staff still working for MNCDI within our network of facilities in the area," the spokesperson said.

"This includes our two specialist radiologists, MRI and CT radiographers, ultra-sonographers and dedicated clerical and nursing team members.  

"MNCDI and the greater Healthcare Imaging Services (HIS) will continue to provide imaging services through the extensive network of community imaging and medical centre imaging sites in the Mid-North Coast region including Forster, Gloucester, Kempsey, Laurieton, Taree and Wauchope.

“We will continue to provide services at community and medical centre imaging sites in Port Macquarie.”

Hastings Macleay Clinical Network Coordinator Jane Evans says the Mid North Coast Local Health District conducted an extensive open tender process for the provision of medical imaging services for the clinical network.

"In line with existing practice, the health district sought a private contractor to provide medical imaging service at Port Macquarie Base Hospital, as the current private provider’s contract ended on November 30," Ms Evans said.

"The contractor will provide an on-site radiologist at Kempsey District Hospital and tele-radiology services at Wauchope District Memorial Hospital in line with the current service provision.

"The open tender process was overseen by a project governance committee which is standard government practice and ensures all is in keeping with NSW Health policy and procedure.

"The tender was awarded to I-MED Radiology Network which was deemed best suited to meet the service requirements."

Ms Evans said one health district staff member who currently works with the medical imaging provider will retain that role within the new service.

Other staffing arrangements will be determined by the private provider.

Despite losing the 25 year-old contract, MNCDI says it is continuing to expand services across the region.

It will open the first stage of a comprehensive imaging facility near the Port Macquarie Base Hospital on December 10.

Highfields Imaging will offer diagnostic imaging services with nuclear medicine to follow toward the end of January, 2019, offering PET services for the first time in the region.

The introduction of PET services at Highfields Imaging is positive news for the Mid-North Coast community, saving patients extensive travel time.

"Introduction of PET services at Highfields Imaging is positive news for the Mid North Coast Community, saving patients extensive travel time," the spokesperson said.

Patients in the community are travelling at least two hours each way to Coffs Harbour or Newcastle for PET services.  

PET services detect and monitor cancer.

I-MED Radiology Network was contacted for comment.

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