Alice Springs oncology and cardio seeks to improve heart health in rural Australia

Heart-related hospital admissions are twice as high in Alice Springs compared to the rest of Australia. The hospital’s oncology and cardio service is hoping to improve that.

The oncology and cardio service at Alice Springs hospital has treated 12,000 patients since 2018. Picture Mark Brake

The Alice Springs Hospital is marking five years of operations for its oncology and cardio service in Central Australia.

Established in 2018, the service was designed to meet a dire need in the community.

The rate of heart-related hospital admissions in Alice Springs is more than twice the national rate – 98.6 per 10,000 compared with 42.3 per 10,000.

The oncology and cardio service includes outreach clinics in 12 remote communities across Central Australia and Barkly regions.

More than 12,000 patients have used the service since its opening, which includes chemotherapy, blood transfusions, a range of testing services such as chest pain clinics and MRIs.

“We know when you receive healthcare closer to home you get better outcomes,” Chief Minister and Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.

“This is why we invest in quality healthcare infrastructure in every region of the Territory.”

Earlier this year, the Alice Springs hospital received new staff accommodation in the hope of increasing staffing levels and attracting more interstate healthcare workers to the area.

The need for support in remote regions was highlighted by a mother in Nhulunbuy in August this year, when her community rallied behind her to travel across the country to get specialist care for the birth of her baby suffering from a rare congenital heart condition, which would require surgery.

“We hope by sharing our story there can be increased awareness and support for Territorians, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in remote communities with similar challenges,” the mother said.

Health statistics showing the NT has the lowest heart attack survival rates in Australia, however, forced Ms Fyles to defend the government’s decision on healthcare distribution in March earlier this year.

“Health services in the Northern Territory are designed to meet the specific needs of the community, taking into account population size, vast geographic spread and clinical requirements,” she said.