Yarrabah’s third world mobile coverage puts residents at risk

A lack of reliable mobile coverage means a Far North community is unable to access vital telehealth services, with medical staff concerned for their patients.

THE lack of reliable mobile phone coverage is impacting the healthcare of some of the region’s most remote and vulnerable residents who rely on telehealth appointments.

Yarrabah resident Stewart King, 53, was at the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services (GYHS) in town on Thursday, hoping the mobile signal worked properly for his diabetes telehealth session.

Mr King said when the town’s mobile coverage works, these telehealth sessions allow him to receive important treatment information without having to make a 100km return trip to Cairns.

“Our mobile connection is Yarrabah is very often very bad,” Mr King said.

“I would feel much more relieved if we had good and reliable mobile coverage.”

Yarrabah resident Stewart King with Gurriny Yealamucka health worker Rodderick Duncan (right), said the unreliable mobile coverage in the town often meant telehealth appointments are unavailable. Picture: Supplied

GYHS health worker Rodderick Duncan, 30, said this meant he had to inform people of appointments.

“We cannot rely on text or email messages arriving in time,” he said.

“Reliable coverage would make my job more efficient.”

Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service medical staff said the lack of connectivity in Yarrabah is badly impacting its clients who cannot rely on telehealth services. Picture: Supplied

GYHS chief executive Suzanne Andrews said poor coverage also minimised telehealth patient transfer cost savings.

“In January GY’s 26-vehicle fleet did over 120,000km over 31 days,” she said

“While we are set up fully from a technology and staffing perspective, the lack of reliable and accessible telecommunications is a roadblock to its effectiveness in the region.”

chief executive officer of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation at Yarrabah Suzanne Andrews said she is very concerned about the internet, telecommunications and mobile phone connectivity in the small community.

When Regional Communications Minister Bridget McKenzie announced a $257m Regional Connectivity Program which included the electorates of Kennedy, the Cairns Post contacted a senior adviser about why Yarrabah was not included.

However, the adviser had no details.

Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services director of clinical services Dr Jason King, tries in vain to access mobile coverage in Yarrabah. Picture: Supplied

GYHS director of clinical services, Dr Jason King said a high level of telehealth no-shows could be attributed to telecommunications issues.

“We will never close the gap, when we do not have an appropriate standard of telecommunications,” he said.

Telstra regional general manager Rachel Cliffe said a number of environmental factors can affect coverage.

“Such as the type of device being used, the distance from a tower, terrain (hills and valleys), vegetation or buildings,” she said.

Originally published as Yarrabah’s third world mobile coverage puts residents at risk