Mobile lung checks for Qld's remote miners

Pioneering mobile medical access initiative, Health of Australia, has just pulled the covers off its new Heart 5 truck and purpose-built trailer set, which will soon be providing vital mobile medical imaging services to remote Queensland’s mine and quarry workers.

The mobile medical imaging clinic will give these workers ready access to lung checks they ordinarily might struggle to attend, and is the fifth truck in the Heart of Australia fleet.

The clinic includes X-ray and CT scanner equipment to assist in the screening and early detection of mine dust lung diseases, such as black lung and silicosis.

Heart of Australia founder, Dr Rolf Gomes (pictured, above), said he is thrilled to be working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland, which contributed $2 million towards the build and operation of HEART 5.

“The battery technology we have designed and built in Queensland to power the CT scanner means with HEART 5 we can do a CT parked on a mine site, and that is a world first,” said Dr Gomes.

“Through the collaboration of the project partners, the Queensland Government, Philips and I-MED, this technology and innovation has been made possible.

“HEART 5 breaks down the tyranny of distance, so if you do have a lung disease, we can find it early and quickly.”

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the HEART 5 truck would fulfil a vital role for a significant number of the state’s remote mining workers.

“We’re proud to have HEART 5 on the road helping to uphold our high standards for health and safety in the resources sector, and our government will continue to support workers, on and off the job site,” he said.

“Today marks an important day as we farewell HEART 5 from Brisbane, on its official rollout to regional Queensland.”

Dr Gomes said providing rural patients with access to locally delivered medical imaging services will make an enormous difference in improving lives and supporting the work of local GPs.

“Heart of Australia is pioneering the delivery of radiology services in regional Queensland,” he said.

“For retired miners as well as those living in rural and remote communities, this means easier access to testing and screening which will improve patient health outcomes.”

Since 2014, Heart of Australia’s medical specialists have seen more than 12,000 patients and saved more than 500 lives. The fleet has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres servicing towns from Stanthorpe in the south to Weipa in the far north and Winton in the west.

“With the launch of HEART 5, our CT truck, we will be finding more, treating more, and saving more lives,” Dr Gomes said.