Health care getting better

THE Far North’s community is well aware of the pressure the region’s hospital and health service is under to deliver health care, bring its blown-out budget under control and provide for the future.

Residents of the region fully appreciate the wonderful work medical and support staff do to assist those in need, from road crash victims to cancer sufferers.

For years the health service and the government have been playing catch-up to meet the demanding needs of the region, which also includes Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait.

Fortunately the service, under the watchful eye of the board and senior executives, is preparing for the future and has outlined a clinical services plan for the next five years.

Plastic surgery, cardiology and paediatric services are priorities, as well as ophthalmology (eye surgery), interventional cardiology, medical paediatrics, plastic and reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation services.

The southern corridor is the next focus as the population continues to grow at a rapid rate.

The Cairns North Community Health Centre does a great job taking some of the workload off the main Cairns Hospital to provide a range of services, including diabetes, oral and sexual health and physiotherapy, some of which will be repeated at a similar facility proposed at Edmonton to also cover renal services, endocrinology, respiratory and child and maternal services.

The ultimate aim for the region is a Cairns University Hospital with education and research components, similar to Townsville and the Gold Coast, with a speciality of tropical medicine. Nick Dalton Deputy editor