Outside of our specialist clinics, Heart of Australia runs a suite of programs and other healthcare services that holistically play a part in delivering our mission to make healthcare more accessible to people living in rural and remote areas. The Heart of Australia Corporate Health Initiative (HOACHI) is one of these programs that focuses on occupational and preventative health services in the workplace. This is achieved through respiratory health surveillance for coal mine, mineral mine, quarry industries, and other job sectors that are exposed to harmful dusts.
One of the HOACHI services is delivering Resources Safety & Health Queensland’s (RSHQ) Former Worker Program. The program offers free lung checks to former Queensland mine and quarry workers on the HEART5 Mobile Health Unit. This program provides eligible participants the vital opportunity to get a better understanding of their respiratory health, along with other incidental findings. Recent partipants Doug, Andrew, and Ian, took the time to share their experiences with us.
Currently, rural Australians are more likely to end up in hospital and have shorter lifespans due to conditions that could have been detected and treated earlier with better access to medical services compared to city-dwellers. Doug, Andrew, and Ian’s supervising doctor, Dr. Michael Skiba, has seen first-hand how access to Heart of Australia’s specialist testing and diagnostic services has shaped the wellbeing of rural patients for the better. “In these cases, the outcomes could have been death quite easily,” Dr Skiba said.
“To have an early diagnosis is life-saving for them… [as it] leads to early treatment and support. It [enables] far better outcomes.”
Doug’s Story
Doug spent much of his working life in dusty environments since the 1980’s as a former glass, construction, and mine worker. During this time, dust exposure wasn’t seen as anything to be wary of. Instead, “dust came with the job.” We now know that exposure to dust and other hazardous substances can cause significant and long-term health issues that are often irreversible.
Living in country Australia, Doug had limited access to lung screening services that could provide timely, clear answers, despite his long history of worsening symptoms that were significantly affecting his wellbeing. To receive this care, Doug often found himself having to drive out of town on long trips while experiencing symptoms that made this journey incredibly difficult.
This all changed when Doug booked his free lung check on HEART 5. Doug told us about how everyone “went right out of their way” to assist him through the process of applying and booking a free lung check, which resulted in him finally receiving a clear outcome. Doug said, “I was just falling through the cracks and life would have went on, and I wouldn’t have been any of the wiser. I wouldn’t know what I know now. I owe you my life.”
Doug highlighted that the arrival of Heart of Australia in his community was a major turning point in his health journey. Additionally, Doug has been an advocate for other former workers in his community to come onboard HEART 5 and get a free lung check – “I’ve been telling everyone since then… go and get checked out. [It] cost[s] you nothing… they’re experts. They know what they’re doing.”
Andrew’s Story
Andrew experienced similar health drawbacks after a long working history in coal mining and metal manufacturing that exposed him to occupational dust. HEART5’s arrival in Rockhampton for a Former Worker clinic gave Andrew the chance to address his concerns and give him and his family much-needed answers, as well as identify health issues early on before they worsened. Andrew says the Heart Team “all did an unreal job” and “went to great pains to get everything lined up.”
He describes these free lung check services being available in country areas as “life changing.” “It’s taken a whole lot of stress off my mind… [Heart of Australia] has made one hell of a lot of difference in my life,” Andrew said. When rural communities are able to have more opportunities to access essential health services, they are more likely to receive earlier diagnoses which allows them to receive follow-up care.
Ian’s Story
After 30 years of working in the coal mine industry, Ian saw a post online advertising the free respiratory health services onboard HEART 5 for former mine and quarry workers. Ian credits this appointment as life changing, saying “I actually owe my life to my visit to the [Heart Truck].”
After his appointment revealed urgent health concerns that Ian had not been experiencing symptoms for, his treating doctor, Dr. Skiba, rang him at home straight away to clearly explain his findings and help outline the path for follow-up treatment. Within the space of a week, Ian had his appointment with Heart of Australia and received his test findings, which enabled him to be referred to a specialist and receive a treatment plan to dramatically improve his health outcomes.
Due to the testing that Ian underwent as part of the Former Worker Program, , he was able to be assessed and referred for urgent treatment. “It was just people really knew what they were doing… [the Heart Team took] the time to explain why and what [they’re] doing… That was the difference.” Ian said.
Having the capability to deliver a suite of specialist services onboard our Heart Trucks means that Heart of Australia can offer a solution to the problem many remote patients face in accessing these kinds of appointments. “Normally remote patients would have to cover the distance to cities or regional hubs that are able to do [specialist testing like] CTs and complex lung functions and find these problems,” Dr Skiba says. For many country communities, this extra effort means leaving their loved ones, their home, and their job to take the time to travel to cities or regional hubs to receive medical testing and care. This often involves back-and-forth trips for follow-up appointments and testing, making receiving comprehensive care and diagnoses even more taxing. These barriers mean that many patients often put off getting symptoms checked that may signal potentially serious health problems, until it is too late.
Patient stories like Doug, Andrew, and Ian’s are the reason why free lung checks are important for former workers and our Heart Trucks stay out on Australia’s rural roads. We are proud to support the wellbeing of individuals in country communities and make sure they are able to receive specialist care earlier, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
Interested in a Former Worker Free Lung Check?
The program is available to former and retired mine and quarry workers in Queensland who have at least three years’ experience in coal, mineral mines or quarries, including six months in a Queensland operation. Screening includes an examination with an RSHQ-approved doctor, chest x-ray, lung function test by spirometry and CT scan if required.
Contact the Mine Dust Health Support Service on 1300 445 715 to see if you’re eligible and to book.
