Free Health Checks For Retired Mine Workers

With over 8000 retired mine workers living in Mackay, the highest per capita in Queensland, there is a large section of our community who may unknowingly be walking around with long-lasting health issues such as black lung, silicosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  

Often laying undetected for years, there is now a pathway for local ex-miners to receive a free, quick and easy medical check-up that could save their lives.

In February this year, Heart of Australia launched HEART 5- a first-of-its kind mobile medical imaging clinic, delivering free lung checks to regional retired and former mine and resource workers  across the state.

A world first, this impressive facility has an onboard X-ray machine, battery-powered CT scanner and a knowledgeable medical team who provide a detailed chest examination in as little as 45 minutes.

Its X-ray machines detect black lung and each patient is given a thorough examination that includes basic health metrics, a lung function test and CT scan where required.

To be eligible for your free lung health check you simply need to have worked in a mine in Queensland for a minimum of three years at some point in your life and to be currently retired.

This also needs to be your only lung check in the last five years.

Ewan Wylie, Head of Operations for Heart of Australia said that it is really important to get checked.

“Whether you are  experiencing shortness of breath or not, if you have a history of working in mines and quarries we encourage you to please  come and get checked,” he said.

“Early detection is really important and we are often finding that early stages of other conditions can also be found and identified.”

These can include cardiac or chest issues and, by addressing these before they become a bigger problem, patients can often be prescribed a maintenance medicine to mitigate further development.

“For a variety of conditions, the best outcomes are when we find them early ,” said Mr Wylie.

This mobile medical imaging clinic is the fifth truck in the fleet and Heart of Australia are working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Resources Safety and Health Queensland, who contributed $2 million towards the build and operation of HEART 5.

Since 2014, Heart of Australia’s medical specialists have seen more than 14,000 patients and saved more than 600 lives.

The fleet has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres servicing towns from Stanthorpe in the south to Weipa in the far north and Winton in the west.

It will be in Mackay on October 20 and 21.

You can book directly with Mind Dust Health Support Services by calling 1300 445 715 or simply drop-in to the Resource Centre of Excellence between 9am and 4pm on Thursday, October 21 in Crichton’s Rd, Paget.

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