In regional and rural Australia patients must travel hundreds of kilometres at huge cost to see a doctor. And often they face multiple visits for tests, results and specialist treatments. For many, this is not an option.

But what if – instead of investing billions of extra dollars to do more of the same – we look at changing a broken system? Dr Rolf Gomes, the engineer-turned-cardiologist behind Heart of Australia is reimagining the way healthcare can be delivered to regional Australians.  He has designed mobile clinics packed into 18-wheeler semi-trailers that now bring specialists and essential services to outback Queensland.

The Heart Trucks travel 8000 km a month and carry all the equipment needed to provide on-the-spot cardiology diagnosis, including stress test equipment. Now the team is expanding to include respiratory and sleep medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology and renal services, with more to join the roster as the service sets to cover more regional areas across the country.

the limbic podcast talks to Dr Gomes about how he started the service and how it’s bringing health equity to the bush.

This podcast was created independently by the limbic. Thanks to A. Menarini Australia Pty Ltd for providing the non restrictive educational grant that made it possible.