New ultrasound service a major boost for Cobar residents
Wednesday May 6, 2009
Visiting sonographer David Treacy.
In a major boost to local medical services, Cobar residents will no longer be forced to travel out of town for ultrasounds with a new visiting service introduced at Cobar Primary Health Care Centre.
Sydney-based David Treacy is now planning to visit Cobar once a month for two days per visit to provide an ultrasound service.
Mr Treacy, who works as the chief
sonographer at a private practice in Bankstown, said the support of the Outback Division of General Practice (ODGP) and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has allowed him to begin the service in Cobar.
“I feel very privileged to be here, it would not happen without the support of the ODGP and staff here at the centre,” he said.
Mr Treacy is flown to Cobar by the RFDS, and also visits other towns in the western region such as Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Lightning Ridge as part of the Rural Radiography service.
“It was not possible before (the RFDS came on board) because there is a lot of equipment to bring, and the logistics at the airports were hard.
“Its all computer based equipment, so it had to be unpacked at the airport (to be scanned), and it had to go on as carry on luggage,” Mr Treacy said.
The visiting service uses a state of the art portable machine which was first designed for use by the US Army during its Desert Storm Operation.
Mr Treacy said advances in modern technology have also made it a lot easier for him to provide an ultrasound service for Cobar.
“I can take the ultrasound, then send the images via the internet to the world wide radiography network, and have them examined that way,” he said.
“The reports on the images can be done straight away, and the turnaround is very quick.”
Mr Treacey said he was amazed by the response from locals already.
“It’s been very well received, and I will keep coming as long as the demand is here.
“I don’t care who comes along or where they have been referred from,” Mr Treacy said.
“Patients can come over from the surrounding towns, it doesn’t matter to me,” he said.
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