Health Minister Lawrence Springborg paying a visit to Kingaroy Hospital after last week's Cabinet meeting in Kingaroy, with Cr Cheryl Dalton
November 14, 2012

A new Telehealth Centre opened today at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane may cut travelling time for South Burnett patients with specialist medical appointments.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg joined doctors at the PA Hospital this morning to witness a live consultation with a patient 200km away.

Mr Springborg officially opened the new PAH Telehealth Centre with Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy.

He said the new centre would make healthcare more accessible to people living in regional and remote Queensland.

“It allows rural and remote patients to connect ‘face-to-face’ with specialists and clinicians, without having to travel hundreds of kilometres from their homes or local hospitals,” Mr Springborg said.

“This centre will deliver specialist services including those in the areas of cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology and geriatrics.

“I live in regional Queensland so it is great for me to see Prof Len Gray from the PA talking face-to-face with a patient in my electorate at the Warwick Hospital – it is truly remarkable.”

The centre is part of the $5.1 million Princess Alexandra Hospital Online Outreach Services project (PAH Online), which is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Digital Regions Initiative program.

The introduction of PAH Online will complete Telehealth connectivity between the PA Hospital and regional centres such as Kingaroy, Dalby, Warwick, Roma and Mt Isa.

“Patient consultations, previously conducted by telephone, will now be provided via video conferencing.

“This makes enhanced treatment options, access to patient records and improved care coordination all possible,” Mr Springborg said.