EDITORIAL: A second cardiologist is more than a win – it’s a lifeline

EDITORIAL: A second cardiologist is more than a win – it’s a lifeline By Emma Cam.

Cue the happy tears – recruitment for a second paediatric cardiologist is underway.

The new role will come with a support nurse, therapist and allied health staff to strengthen children’s heart care across the Far North.

It’s a long-overdue lifeline for families who have waited too long, fought extremely hard and faced heartbreaking delays in accessing critical care.

In 2024 alone, nearly 700 paediatric cardiology services were delivered at Cairns Hospital and Health Service – by just one specialist.

More than 250 children were on the waitlist. Some waited more than 300 days.

Ten children in the most urgent category faced an average wait of 15 days – and several became critically ill before receiving care.

These aren’t just numbers. They represent kids who missed milestones, families pushed to breaking point and communities left behind.

The Far North has one of the highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in the country – 10 times the state average – yet specialist care has remained out of reach for many. For too long, geography has determined access. It shouldn’t.

This story is important to me – not only because I met toddler Colton Hughes-Hodges, whose brave little heart stayed with me long after our interview – but because I’ve experienced this gap myself.

I live with an auto-immune disease and require ongoing specialist care. In Sydney, access was easier. Here, waitlists are longer, treatments limited and even getting medication can be a battle, especially in the wet season.

This represents another win for families, healthcare professionals and supporters who have rallied as part of the Cairns Post’s Critical Condition campaign, our ongoing series exposing the severe strain on regional health services.

Earlier this year, we revealed breast cancer diagnoses were delayed by up to four months after a mammography service was shut down due to staff shortages – highlighting a broader, systemic challenge.

One person stood out and was mentioned in every interview: Dr Ben Reeves. Cairns’ Clark Kent – calm, humble, superhuman. But even heroes need help. With a region nearly one and a half times the size of Victoria, one pair of hands wasn’t enough.

A second cardiologist isn’t just another routine hire. It’s a statement: regional kids deserve equal care, close to home.

Emma Cam, health reporter

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