Chinchilla dials in to telehealth project

Western Downs communities now have better access to specialist medical care, after QGC Pty Limited invested $1.3 million to expand telehealth services in the region.

The gas production company are also covering installation and development costs for the first two years of The University of Queensland Health-e-Regions telehealth project, a service which connects remote patients with medical specialist via digital link.

The project is led by UQ’s Centre for Online Health, with support from the Queensland Department of Health and UQ’s research commercialisation company, UniQuest.

Centre for Online Health deputy director Associate Professor Anthony Smith said the project already was reducing the burden on families who would otherwise have to travel hundreds of kilometres to attend specialist appointments in a major city.

“We’re pleased to offer a range of telehealth services that reduce travel time and stress for patients living in Chinchilla,” Associate Professor Smith said.

“Already, we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from patients who have had a telehealth appointment as part of the Health-e-Regions project.”

Associate Professor Smith said the pilot phase of the service connected patients from medical centres in Miles, Chinchilla and Dalby with specialists at hospitals in Toowoomba and Brisbane via video conference.

QGC vice-president sustainability Brett Smith said community health was a key focus of the company’s $150 million Social Impact Management Plan for the Queensland Curtis LNG Project.

“We aim to manage social impacts and maximise the benefits of living in the area,” Mr Smith said.

The towns of Dalby (180 km west of Brisbane), Chinchilla (253 km from Brisbane) and Miles (300 km from Brisbane) will benefit from the telehealth project.

The towns have a high proportion of children, young people and people aged over 65.

A cake-cutting ceremony was held today in Chinchilla (28 August) to celebrate the service.

Contact: UQ Centre for Online Health, Joanne Grey, +61 (7) 3176 6934, j.grey2@uq.edu.au; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Kate Gadenne, +61 (7) 3346 3036, 0438 727 895, k.gadenne@uq.edu.au. QGC Communications Kester Hubbard, +61 (0) 408 727 261, kester.hubbard@bg-group.com.