Mobile cardiac clinic Heart of Australia has seen almost 70 patients across southwest Queensland during its first week on the road – proving huge demand for local specialist services.
Heart of Australia, delivered in partnership with Arrow Energy, is an Australian-first program taking capital-city levels of care to rural and remote parts of the state.
The largest, custom-built mobile clinic in Australia, driven by a Kenworth K200 prime mover, travelled more than 1400km in its first week on the road – visiting St George, Charleville, Roma and Dalby.
Its next circuit will commence at the end of this week, and the program will continue to service the towns on a fortnightly basis, adding Goondiwindi from October 31.
Heart of Australia founder and cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes said he was extremely grateful the program was receiving strong local support.
“Everywhere we’ve been this week, we’ve had a warm welcome and patients have been impressed with what the mobile clinic can offer,” Dr Gomes said.
“We have already seen some patients with very serious and urgent heart concerns, who are now able to receive the treatment they need without several long car trips to a major centre for diagnosis.”
The Heart of Australia mobile clinic is a custom-built, $1.5million, 25m-long semi-trailer with specialist diagnostic equipment and technology, staffed by a team of cardiologists and respiratory specialists on a rotating roster.
Dr Gomes said the mobile service provided diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for a range of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
A timetable and further information is available at www.heartofaustralia.com.
CONTACT: Peter MacDonald, Heart of Australia, 0408 075 020 or petermac@heartofaustralia.com.
Heart of Australia is delivered in partnership with Arrow Energy and is proudly supported by Medihearts, Bayer Australia, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Kenworth, IOR Petroleum, Brown and Hurley, Telstra, GT Insurance and Rex Airlines.
The program has also received assistance from the Australian and Queensland governments.
