Heart of Australia, in partnership with Anglo American, is today launching new women’s health services in regional communities, with the introduction of gynaecology specialist services in the Bowen Basin.
Heart of Australia Founder and cardiologist, Dr Rolf Gomes, said Heart of Australia’s custom-built mobile health clinic HEART 1, would visit Middlemount on a quarterly basis, and had been refurbished with specialist equipment to support the new service, including a colposcope for colposcopy procedures.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring this important service to this community. Women needing this care are often busy parents who put their own healthcare last on the priority list. We know that accessing specialist services, including gynaecology, can be challenging for women living in remote communities and that delaying these appointments can affect their health outcomes.” Dr Gomes stated.
The clinic is supported by gynaecologist, Dr Caron Forde, and provides improved accessibility to a full service of gynaecological care including new gynaecology consultations, infertility, contraception (including IUD), menstrual cycle problems, endometriosis consultations, cervical screening test assessments, menopause, pelvic floor incontinence and women’s health issues.
Anglo American’s Australian Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Impact, Victoria Somlyay, said the new service had been initiated to help address the gap in the availability of women’s health services in Central Queensland communities.
“As part of our work to support health services in the communities where we operate, we received feedback from women in our workforce and the community that they had major challenges in accessing specialist health services, with some women travelling three hours for an appointment.
“Through our existing partnership with Heart of Australia, we wanted to take action to help address the critical need for accessible women’s health services in Central Queensland, and are pleased to play a role in supporting a new gynaecology service.
“Supporting thriving communities is a key pillar of our global Sustainable Mining Plan, and this new service will ensure the women of Isaac and Central Highlands are able to access specialist health care in the communities where they live and work,” Ms Somlyay said.
Heart of Australia delivers quality, specialist medical services to Australians living in regional, rural and remote communities. Since Heart of Australia commenced operations in 2014, they have seen over 13,000 patients and potentially helped save over 500 lives.
The innovative delivery approach involves taking specialist medical services to the people who need them on a fleet of custom-designed mobile medical clinics and Heart of Australia’s fleet includes five mobile medical clinics.
Anglo American is a leading global mining company, with significant investments in Australia and particularly in Queensland. The company operates five steelmaking coal mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, and has additional joint venture interests in steelmaking coal and manganese, as well as copper exploration projects underway in North West Queensland and Western Australia.
Visit dates:
The Heart of Australia specialist medical clinic and Dr Caron Forde visit Middlemount on 22nd –23rd June and return to the town on a quarterly basis.
Making appointments:
As Heart of Australia provides specialist medical services, patients wishing to make an appointment will need a referral from their GP.
Once people have a referral from their GP, they can call Heart of Australia on (07) 3162 5310 or email [email protected] to make an appointment.