For many communities around Australia, buses are about more than just providing a much-needed method of public transport. While thousands of bus runs offer vital connections to every corner of Australia each and every day, the flexibility of heavy vehicles means they offer a variety of opportunities to help people in numerous ways.
This has been made clear this year, with New South Wales recently unveiling a new $2.5 million state-of-the-art lung bus to improve the health of thousands of locals. The Lung Health Mobile Clinic offers lung health checks to people around the state after recently arriving in Shellharbour.
The goal of the unique bus is to ensure the early detection and treatment of dust disease like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.
“The new Mobile Clinic underscores the Minns Labor government’s commitment to removing barriers like cost and location, ensuring workers across NSW have access to the critical support and care they need to safeguard their health,” NSW work health and safety minister Sophie Cotsis says.
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“Along with enforcement of the recent ban on engineered stone, the new Lung Bus demonstrates our commitment to improve outcomes for workers exposed to hazardous dust across NSW.”
The lung bus program, via its free lung screening checks, provides services to more than 5,000 workers annually in regional NSW, with the icare lung bus travelling the length and breadth of the state. This has included visits to Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Tuncurry, Spears Point, Tweed Heads, Gosford, Nowra, Port Kembla, Bathurst, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Tamworth.
The new mobile clinic features several innovations including digital chest X-ray technology, enhanced spirometry (lung function) testing equipment, digital monitoring systems, a backup power supply and greater accessibility and comfort. It’s all part of a brand-new lung bus that continues the legacy of the state’s original mobile service that served communities for nearly 16 years, travelling more than 700,000kms to screen more than 53,000 people at over 300 destinations across NSW.
“A lung health check could save your life,” icare group executive of general insurance and care Sarah Johnson says.
“Early detection is critical to effective treatment, and we’re here to make sure every worker, no matter where they live, has access to world-class care.”
Varley Group, who has considerable experience in producing modular customised equipment, manufactured and fabricated the new lung bus, with icare working with NSW government agencies to design a two-stage procurement strategy for the vehicle. In the end, the mobile clinic was delivered seven weeks ahead of schedule, exceeding expectations with a striking design that raises awareness both when parked and on the road.
Made across the border in Queensland, Shimadzu provided the x-ray equipment, while Vyaire Medical installed the lung function test equipment. The bus also features bespoke mural artwork along the interior hallway commissioned by Aboriginal creative agency Mumbulla Creative.
“I welcome the $2.5 million investment into the new icare Lung Bus which will provide thousands of health checks for people living in regional NSW,” NSW regional minister Tara Moriarty says.
“Our regional communities remain front and centre when it comes to ensuring early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.”
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