Accessing specialists in rural and remote areas
- If you live in a rural or remote area of Queensland, the following services and programs will help you access medical specialists and professionals in your area.
- Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP)
- Telehealth
- Rural health services directory.
Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program (MSOAP)
MSOAP improves access to medical specialists for people in rural and remote areas of Queensland.
The program increases access to specialist services and ensures that continuous care is organised with local health services (where possible).
Specialist services include:
- surgery
- dermatology
- gastroenterology
- psychiatry
- ophthalmology
- physician services (general, respiratory, adult, endocrinology, etc.).
More information
Search the Outreach Diary for available services
For more information or to make an appointment contact:
- General Practice Queensland on (07) 3105 8300
- Department of Health on (07) 3234 0856 or email MSOAP@health.qld.gov.au
- your local health service or doctor.
MSOAP Indigenous Chronic Disease Program
This program provides treatment to people in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with the following conditions:
- cancer
- cardiovascular disease
- chronic renal (kidney) disease
- chronic respiratory disease
- diabetes.
The program combines local services with visiting health professionals to develop an ongoing treatment plan for patients.
More information
Search the Outreach Diary for available services
Contact:
- General Practice Queensland on (07) 3105 8300
- Queensland Health on (07) 3234 0856 or email MSOAP@health.qld.gov.au
- your local health service or doctor.
MSOAP maternity services
This program provides access to high quality maternity services for women and their families in rural and remote communities.
Care is provided before and after the birth of your child and delivered by obstetricians, registered midwives, nurses and child health nurses.
Locations where services are available include:
- Blackwater
- Emerald
- Springsure
- Hopevale
- Napranum
- Charters Towers
- Charleville
- Roma
- Mapoon.
More information
Find out about maternity services
Contact:
- your local health service or doctor
- General Practice Queensland on (07) 3105 8300
- Queensland Health on (07) 3234 0856 or email MSOAP@health.qld.gov.au.
Telehealth
Telehealth allows patients in rural and remote locations to use videoconferencing facilities (TV screen and digital video camera) to speak to and see a health professional from hospitals in Queensland without the need to travel far from home.
For more information:
- visit the telehealth website
- email telehealth@health.qld.gov.au.
Rural Health Services Directory
The Rural Health Service Directory allows you to find what outreach health services are available in the following areas:
- Cairns and Hinterland
- Cape York
- South West
- Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula.
The services offered cover the majority of health issues and concerns.