policy Initiative for HEALTH (part2)
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST RAIL TRAIN HOSPITAL
This is a bold proposal to address the centralising of health care to major urban areas and is an opportunity for Hinkler to introduce radical new thinking in health care delivery.
I propose that this community build and operate Australia’s first hospital train. This would be in effect a surgery equipped hospital on wheels based in Hinkler to service the overflow demands of the public hospital system.
Fully equipped with state of the art equipment, this train would be available to relocate to any rail-serviced part of Queensland to deliver medical aid in any time of disaster, natural or man made.
This is also an opportunity to take specialist care to isolated communities too small to support retention of highly trained medical specialists. It certainly opens up a pathway to many exciting possibilities; for example, when the public health care delivery need is finally addressed, the train could become a mobile medical training centre taking new ideas and treatments to other rail connected centres and remote communities.
Back to the future; many years ago, during times of war and before the advent of helicopters and suitable aircraft, the hospital train in the past was a reality and there are many examples of their application. The times may have changed but a similar need has emerged and continues to grow. This is not a pie in the sky idea, it has been done before. This time around with modern technology a hospital train can be an equally effective tool.
Commissioning this proposal will benefit our region, giving more work to local manufacturing industries and increasing employment opportunities in so many fields.
Railway work shops in the Hervey Bay area will benefit directly; protecting and growing employment security.
During the process of rebuilding our public health care nationally, this could be a mechanism to help bridge the gap during redevelopment process as well as providing a means to bring quality medical care to many isolated communities throughout the country.
This is a project that will reinforce this communities standing as a leading innovation centre. It is expected that this concept will extend to long distant ambulance and patient relocation needs. This is a project that has the potential for a whole new local industry. We could be exporting this equipment and technology all around the world.
We have the Flying Doctor, why not have mobile hospitals?
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