West Moreton Health patients in the Lockyer Valley now have access to additional cardiology services.
Cardiologist Dr James Robinson said extra non-urgent services were available at both Gatton and Esk hospitals, helping to meet growing patient demand in the region.
“Enhancing our outpatient cardiac care is a huge boost for the local community, saving patients and families repeated two-hour round trips to Ipswich Hospital for specialist appointments and testing,” Dr Robinson said.
“At Gatton Hospital, we’re now able to provide specialist outpatient appointments in person with a clinic every three weeks and via telehealth monthly, perform echocardiograms and fit Holter monitors.
“We have also doubled the cardiology services provided at Esk Hospital, with the cardiac clinic extending to a full day once every 12 weeks and the telehealth clinic every eight weeks.
“With West Moreton Health’s tele-oncology services also expanded recently to include both Esk and Gatton hospitals, it’s an exciting time for our staff and patients.”
A Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) from West Moreton Health’s Better Cardiac Care program will be on-site to facilitate the telehealth service from Esk Hospital, with a pharmacist also available to complete medication review at the time of appointment.
CNC Jane Faulkner said she was “incredibly proud of the cardiac care we can now provide to local patients”.
"One of our top priorities at West Moreton Health is to provide care closer to home for patients with chronic health conditions, as well as using telehealth and other digital services to help our patients,” Ms Faulkner said.
“These extra cardiology services at Gatton and Esk hospitals certainly help us tick those boxes.
“It’s a wonderful result.”