Lung cancer screening mobile capacity increases for remote communities with Heart of Australia expansion

A Queensland mobile healthcare company has tapped into tens of millions of dollars in private and public funding to expand its services to offer critical lung cancer scanning to remote Queensland communities.

A Queensland mobile healthcare company will expand nationally, delivering critical lung cancer screening to rural and remote communities.

A $45m federal investment, alongside other corporate money, will allow Heart of Australia to deliver five additional trucks to its fleet.

These trucks provide an array of mobile health facilities, including the world’s first battery-powered mobile CT scanners.

The new trucks will be modelled on the organisation’s existing HEART 5, which has delivered respiratory health checks and radiology services throughout Queensland since 2022, and crucially will allow for a lung cancer screening program to pop up in regional centres across Australia.

Heart of Australia founder and cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes announced the expansion at the organisation’s 10th anniversary gala dinner in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Photo of Dr Rolf Gomes and Gary Briggs in the truck. Picture: Supplied

“Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer deaths in the country, which is why the program is so vital,” Dr Gomes said.

“We’re looking to find lung cancer early because the greatest determinant of survival is early detection and earlier treatment.”

The routes for the new trucks are yet to be determined but the first truck, HEART 7, is expected to be on the road by August 2025.

Former Heart of Australia patient Gary Briggs said he was thrilled to hear the program was expanding.

The 73-year-old, who now resides in Dalby, said Heart of Australia allowed him to receive treatment rurally after having his first heart attack at just 51.

“Without (Heart of Australia) I would be dead,” Mr Briggs said.