Queensland’s pioneering Heart of Australia program delivering specialist cardiac health services to rural and remote communities, is again expanding its territory – this time scheduling the far Central Western town of Winton on its regular clinic tours.

Winton will become the 12th town to receive regular visits by cardiologists and support staff who consult patients in Heart of Australia’s semi-trailer-hauled mobile clinic.

“It’s amazing that demand for our service has grown to 12 towns on our Queensland circuits and Winton will be a real milestone, achieved in just over 18 months since we launched with five towns”, says Heart of Australia founder and lead cardiologist, Dr Rolf Gomes.

“Our team are genuinely looking forward to welcoming the people of the Winton district to our rolling clinics visits.

“They’ll be joining the several thousand bush Queenslanders who, through referrals by their local GPs, have become Heart of Australia patients since our launch with foundation partner Arrow Energy as an Australian first in October 2014”, Dr Gomes said.

“In fact, since then we’ve had referrals across Queensland for over 1,800 patients and we’re pleased that we were able to identify and help hundreds of people suffering critical, life-threatening heart problems.”

Dr Gomes said country Australians have endured for generations – “and still today face” – a 44% higher risk of dying from heart disease than city-dwellers, but with Heart of Australia’s breakthrough mobile specialist clinic service – “the tables are being turned on this terrible disadvantage caused by our nation’s distances”.

“Our vision is to expand the service geographically and increase the specialties on offer to patients to help save the lives of country Australians for years to come” Dr Gomes said.

The Heart of Australia service also travels to Dalby, Goondiwindi, St George, Charleville, Roma, Longreach, Emerald, Barcaldine, Hughenden, Charters Towers and Moranbah.

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