Nine new state of the art ultrasound machines will be bought by the Royal Hobart Hospital to ensure it remains at the forefront of treatment and diagnostic practice and continues to attract highly skilled staff.

The Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, said patients would benefit the most from the new equipment by receiving contemporary, more efficient and seamless care.

Ms O'Byrne said that one of the nine machines would be placed in the Emergency Department for the first time eliminating the need for patients to be transferred to another area for imaging.

"Currently the transfer process requires the patient to be accompanied by a nurse and orderly - staff who will now be freed up when a machine is located in the ED.

"An Emergency Department is a busy environment where every second counts, so having a machine located in this area will make all the difference.  It will also reduce some of the wait times patients are currently experiencing.

"Another new and additional machine will be located in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient clinic in the Wellington Clinics.

"The seven other machines will replace machines which are coming to the end of operating life in the Department of Imaging, Department of Critical Care Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

"It is vital that this type of technology is kept up-to-date because once machines reach the end of their operating life they become costly to maintain and are out of action for longer periods of time," Ms O'Byrne said.

Ms O'Byrne said the RHH considered the ultrasound machines to be pivotal to the hospital's ability to provide contemporary treatment and diagnostic services.

"Treatment techniques have become more complex and it is crucial that the hospital keeps pace with emerging equipment and technology as it becomes available.

"This not only results in improved patient outcomes, but enhances the RHH's ability to attract and retain skilled health professionals to the respective specialist areas.

"The ultrasound machines form part of a much broader and massive redevelopment process currently transforming the RHH into a contemporary health care facility we can all be proud of," Ms O'Byrne said.

Tenders for the ultrasound equipment were advertised today.