COUCH

New ultrasound machine saves patients trip to Brisbane

Cairns Base Hospital has a new machine for helping diagnose lung cancer conditions thanks to the generosity of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation and COUCH.

The hospital foundation and COUCH (Committee for the Oncology Unit Cairns Hospital) jointly funded the new, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) $300,000 machine.

An endobronchial ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool for the evaluation and diagnosis of lung cancer and peripheral nodules.

Cairns Base Hospital currently has a conventional videobronchoscopy service but does not have an endobronchial ultrasound machine.

COUCH chairman Charlie Woodward said COUCH had been established with the express aim of improving services for cancer patients in Cairns and minimising the requirement for them to have to travel elsewhere for treatment.

“These patients should not have to undergo the stress of having to travel away from their family and friends at a time when they are also dealing with their life-threatening condition,” Mr Woodward said.

“We decided that helping fund this machine for Cairns Base Hospital was a good way of pursuing our commitment to the people of Far North Queensland.”

FNQ Hospital Foundation General Manager Tony Franz said the foundation was happy to be involved in helping fund the new EBUS machine.

“The foundation is regarded now as the Far North’s leading charity and our aim is to help improve health services throughout the region in any way we can,” he said.

Cairns Base Hospital Thoracic Medicine registrar Dr Stephen Vincent said the new EBUS machine would save around 30-40 patients a year a trip to Brisbane for further testing for their condition.

“The Far North has a higher than State average in lung cancer incidence and mortality, especially within the Indigenous population,” Dr Vincent said.

“For various reasons, including cultural and personal, some patients will elect not to travel to Brisbane for further testing, which generally then has an adverse effect on their condition.

“By being able to do this sort of additional testing, we will be able to improve these people’s health outcomes.

“The machine also will be useful in a number of other diagnostic areas and will probably be used on at least 200-250 people a year.”

For more information, contact:

Glenys Duncombe

Fundraising & Marketing Manager

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation

Phone 4050 6327

Mobile 0438 355 821