Well Foundation: Kia Ū Ora – Waitematā Breast Service

In February 2021, Kia Ū Ora – Waitematā Breast Service, a world-class diagnostic breast service that aims to save lives through faster breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, was opened at North Shore Hospital. The hospital is home to one of the busiest breast clinics in New Zealand with the number of patients growing 100% since 2012 and now exceeding 100 a week.

Approximately 10% of those referred will receive a breast cancer diagnosis.

The new facility brings all of the procedures required for assessment, diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment under one roof to improve access, and health outcomes for  patients. Essential to the advances realised through the new facility and service, is the inclusion of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, including a new ultrasound system.

The Philips Epiq 5 Ultrasound System is an integrated solution for whole breast ultrasound without the need for additional obtrusive hardware. The system has been clinically proven to improve penetration in difficult-to-image patients and provides excellent detailed resolution. The technology is also designed so examinations are easy to perform, are more reproducible, and deliver new levels of clinical information. 

With a grant from Kelliher Charitable Trust, and support from several other contributing donors, Well Foundation was able to ensure that patients and clinicians could benefit from the advances of the latest ultrasound technology. Importantly, the new system doubles previous ultrasound imaging capacity; reducing time to diagnosis and treatment, making a dramatic difference in the lives of our patients, their families and whānau.

“By bringing state of the art technology to Kia Ū Ora, Kelliher Charitable Trust played a vitally important part in realising our shared our vision for improving the diagnostic process for woman with breast abnormalities”

Tim Edmonds, Well Foundation CEO