Local communities will have specialist cardiac care at their doorstep as Australia’s largest custom-built mobile clinic expands its services to more regional towns.
The Heart of Australia program, a partnership with Arrow Energy, will travel to Moranbah, Emerald, Charters Towers, Barcaldine and Hughenden twice a month to provide cardiac and respiratory services from a mobile clinic.
The service means patients won’t have to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for clinical appointments.
Project founder and cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes said the program extended city levels of care to people who might otherwise miss out.
“People living in rural or remote areas are 44 per cent more likely to die from heart disease than their city-dwelling counterparts,” Dr Gomes said.
“In partnership with Arrow Energy, we launched the Heart of Australia program in south-western Queensland last year and we have already seen hundreds of patients.
“The Heart of Australia program means people no longer need to drive long distances to city centres, for what might be a 20-minute medical consultation.
“It’s been humbling to have actually saved lives in our first months on the road by identifying patients who, without knowing it themselves, presented with health issues at critical levels.”
Heart of Australia’s 25m-long clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art specialist diagnostic equipment and technology, staffed by a team of cardiologists and respiratory specialists on a rotating roster.
Since its October 2014 launch, it has delivered a fortnightly service to Dalby, Roma, Charleville, St George and Goondiwindi.
Arrow Energy General Manager Bowen Operations Steve Findlay welcomed the service’s northwards expansion.
“I’m one of the hundreds of Arrow staff that work and live in regional Queensland, and I know first-hand how difficult it can be to access health services when you live in regional areas,” Mr Findlay said.
“Arrow’s partnership with Heart of Australia means high quality specialist care is more accessible in our own communities.
“Not only will it provide care to those most at need, but it will raise further awareness in central Queensland about the importance to take time out to be tested, to look for early warning signs and to take care of your heart.”
The program was launched in Moranbah today by Isaac Regional Council Mayor Cr Anne Baker.
“Isaac strongly welcomes the launch of Heart of Australia’s local delivery of this life-saving, specialist service to people in our region,” Mayor Baker said.
“Heart of Australia in partnership with Arrow Energy will close the loop from symptoms and diagnosis to treatment and create a hub of conversation about health in our communities.”
Services will commence tomorrow, 18 March.
A timetable and further information is available at www.heartofaustralia.com.
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Key facts
- The clinic, towed by a Kenworth prime mover, has two consulting rooms, new ultrasound and cardiac stress testing equipment.
- Patients need a GP referral before undergoing a Heart of Australia consultation and specialist testing if required. Clinic consultations are a normal fee-for-service, in line with metropolitan rates.
- The program has already seen hundreds of patients in south-west Queensland.
- Heart of Australia is an extension of Arrow’s ongoing community investment. Since 2011, Arrow has invested more than $12 million in community projects across Queensland.
- Aside from Arrow’s foundation partnership, Heart of Australia has received funding and in-kind support from the Australian and Queensland governments, Bayer Australia, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, IOR Petroleum, Kenworth, Telstra Country Wide, Brown and Hurley, GT Insurance and Rex.