Sonographer Julie Nieuwerkerk and her radiographer husband Marcel have started a visiting practitioner service three days a week at the Kangaroo Island Health Service.

Ms Nieuwerkerk said patients had been welcoming and very grateful for the service, which meant pregnant patients did not have to travel to Adelaide for their regular ultrasounds.

As well as ultrasound for pregnancy, soft tissue damage, renal scans and other services, the radiography service can perform a full range of X-rays.

The business is a private service using the hospital facilities and Ms Nieuwerkerk said she and Marcel as well as children Thomas, 7, and Emily 4, would consider re-locating from their Mt Gambier base if the business was sustainable.

She travels to Kangaroo Island three days in one week and her husband comes the following week.

“We’ll have a trial period of about three months to see how it goes. We might decide to maintain the service as a visiting practice or move here depending on demand,” Ms Nieuwerkerk said.

Shauna Black