Mobile lung health checks for past and present regional mine and quarry workers are to be available by the end of the year following an initiative by the Department of State Development.
Assistant Minister for State Development, Julieanne Gilbert announced that Heart of Australia had been awarded the contract to design, build and operate a mobile health service.
“This mobile screening service will be taking important testing to quarry workers and miners where they live and work to support the early detection and prevention of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“The 25-metre two-trailer truck is projected to clock about 50,000 kilometres annually, delivering chest X-rays and respiratory checks.”
She said the exact routes and schedule were being planned to work with existing services, but would likely include the coal fields across the Bowen and Surat Basins, the North West Minerals Province, and the opal and gem fields in the west and south-west of the State.
”The mobile service will complement existing health facilities already available to current and former workers,” Mrs Gilbert said.
“Heart of Australia has several years’ experience providing specialist medical service clinics to rural and remote communities across Queensland via custom-designed trucks.”
Founder of Heart of Australia, Rolf Gomes said the truck would be built and fitted out in Queensland, and operated by a multi-disciplinary team.
“When you step on board the new mobile clinic you will find a range of sophisticated equipment similar to a respiratory practice in the city,” Dr Gomes said.
“There will be the capacity to conduct full health assessments for current and former mine workers, including chest X-ray screenings, as well as follow-up investigations like high-resolution computed tomography and complex lung function testing where required.”
He said the service would provide services needed in each region with staff including doctors, nurses, radiographers, and of course, a truck driver.
