Cycling event to save lives
NQ patients gain access to latest equipment after charity event
Far North Queensland patients have access to specialist equipment previously only available in metropolitan parts of the state after a cycling event raised more than $400,000.
Two new pieces of specialist equipment bought through the fundraising power of the Far North Hospital Foundation are being used by patients and doctors to improve health outcomes for nose, throat and respiratory patients at Cairns Hospital.
It comes after the QSuper Cardiac Challenge raised $465,000 in 2022.
Cairns Hospital thoracic and sleep medicine director Stephen Vincent thanked riders and donors of last year’s event for their support.
“It’s really pretty amazing that you can ride your bike to Cooktown and these cuttingedge pieces of equipment suddenly appear and they help the patients we serve,” Dr Vincent said. The first piece of new kit, a virtual bronchoscope, is a device used by doctors in training, as well as consultants, to learn or upgrade their skills in performing bronchoscopies.
“It’s a bit like pilots learning to fly a plane before getting in a jumbo jet,” Dr Vincent said.
“Simulation is the best way to learn these skills as you’re not limited to a patient list – you can use the equipment when it’s available.
“It’s a computer simulator where you insert the tiny camera into the virtual nose, past the mouth, into the lung.”
Dr Vincent said the machine can be used by anyone who needs to access the airway including anaesthetists, intensivists, and emergency consultants.
“This is the only one outside the southeast corner of Queensland and it is another tool to make Cairns Hospital attractive for doctors undergoing specialist training,” he said.
The second piece of equipment bought by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation through 2022’s bike ride, is a Naso endoscope to diagnose and manage conditions of the nose and throat.
“It goes up your nostril, past the back of the throat and it’s used to monitor bad sinus or nasal disease, laryngeal cancers and polyps,” Dr Vincent said.
“Previously a patient with nasal polyps would undergo multiple surgeries, the polyps often reappear.
“Coincidentally, a few months after we got this equipment, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme approved a new treatment that can reverse severe nasal polyps so it’s wonderful timing for our patients.”
Foundation fundraising and marketing manager Glenys Duncombe said the QSuper Cardiac Challenge was an amazing example of the community working together.