In rural Queensland, a quiet but powerful shift is happeningin healthcare. After years without a consistent Urology service, patients and healthcare workers alike are seeing the benefits of a renewed model led by Dr Attwell-Heap,a specialist Urologist whose passion for rural medicine is changing lives.
Rural health wasn’t always part of Dr Attwell-Heap’s plan, but when she first visited the site with the Vanugard Health team, she saw more than just a gap in specialist care, she saw an area of need and an opportunity to build something meaningful.
With support from Vanguard Health, Dr Attwell-Heap has begun regular visits to Central Queensland, helping bolster a Urology service that had long been under pressure. Her presence brings more than clinical expertise, it fosters connection, mentorship, and hands-on learning. Staff have noted that her involvement has created space for professional growth, peer support, and a renewed sense of reassurance, knowing that specialist care is now routinely available and supported through a reliable, innovative approach.
Patients are also experiencing the benefits of having a local Urology service. With care now available closer to home, many patients are experiencing greater ease and comfort in accessing treatment, reducing the stress, cost, and disruption that often comes with travelling long distances.
The revitalised service is also helping to bridge the gap inhealth equity for rural communities. By making specialist care availablelocally, it ensures that people living in remote areas have access to the samequality of treatment as those in metropolitan centres. It’s a step towardfairer, more inclusive healthcare, where geography no longer determines thelevel of care a person can receive.
The model itself is simple but powerful. Vanguard Health brings together specialist doctors and nurses, supporting them with logistics and coordination so they can focus on the patient in front of them. Local clinicians are upskilled, visiting specialists are supported, and the community benefits from consistent, high-quality services.
The model of care underpinning the Urology service is helping to address persistent workforce challenges in rural healthcare. By embedding visiting specialists into local teams and prioritising collaboration, the approach supports skill development, builds clinical confidence, and fosters a more connected and resilient workforce. It creates a structure where professional growth is part of everyday practice, making rural placements more sustainable and appealing over time.
This renewed Urology service is more than just a clinical offering. It’s helping rural healthcare grow in ways that support staff wellbeing, encourage teamwork, and opens new opportunities through exposure to different subspecialty medicine for learning and career development. It’s a practical example of how innovation in rural health doesn’t need to be complex- it just needs to be collaborative.
With continued support, this model can be expanded to other specialties and regions. But for now, in this site in rural Queensland, it’s already making a difference, one patient at a time.
