Accessible health care arrives in Newman

Heart of Australia, a mobile specialist healthcare provider, launched its first mobile lung cancer screening clinic, HEART7, in Newman earlier this month at Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service, marking a significant step forward in accessible health care for regional WA.

The launch marks part of the roll-out of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program across the Pilbara and Kimberley, a program funding by the State Government.

Heart of Australia is committed to providing equitable access to specialist healthcare for rural, remote and First Nations communities, giving country Australians a greater opportunity to live long and healthy lives.

The organisation operates a unique healthcare model, with state-of-the-art mobile clinics, such as HEART7, fitted with the same equipment found in specialist practices.

This allows doctors to consult, diagnose and treat patients in a single appointment, reducing the need for long-distance travel to access care.

WA senator Tyron Whitten, who attended the opening, described the initiative as a significant step forward for accessible health care in the Pilbara.

“This is a truly worthwhile cause that deserves more support from the government, particularly here in remote WA,” she said.

Fellow WA senator Glenn Sterle was also present at the launch of HEART 7 and welcomed Heart of Australia’s expansion into regional Western Australia.

“This is what it means to back regional WA, bringing lifesaving screening and specialist care closer to home, and making sure no one misses out regardless of where they live,” he said.

Heart of Australia head of stakeholder and community engagement Deb Guion said equitable access to health care is central to both Heart of Australia’s mission and the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.

“We know that survival rates for lung cancer are significantly higher when detected early,” she said.

“In bringing HEART 7, with its mobile CT scanner, to the Pilbara, our focus is to reduce travel to radiology services and ensure people living in rural and remote areas have the same opportunity to access this life-saving screening program.

“We’ve worked closely with healthcare providers to tailor the program for the local communities we will visit. We encourage all people aged 50–70 who smoke tobacco cigarettes to speak with their health professional and discuss their eligibility for the program.”

The clinic will next travel to the Civic Centre at Halls Creek on the 16–17 March and then onto the Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service in Fitzroy Crossing over the 18–20 March.

Since 2014, Heart of Australia has treated more than 20,000 unique patients, saved 900 lives, and reduced patient travel by more than 53 million kilometres for specialist appointments and testing.

The service has also received more than 47,000 referrals from over 3000 rural and remote general practitioners.

Lung cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Australia and remains the leading cause of cancer-related death.

To be eligible for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, participants must be aged between 50 and 70 years, have no symptoms of lung cancer, and be current smokers or have quit within the past 10 years with a smoking history of at least 30 years.

Eligible participants will receive a bulk-billed CT scan with no out-of-pocket costs.

Access to the program requires a referral from a healthcare provider.

If Heart of Australia is recommended as the service provider, the patient’s healthcare provider will organise the referral on their behalf.

For more information about Heart of Australia visit: heartofaustralia.com.au.