A dust diseases clinic has opened on Pitt Street, Sydney to provide medical access for New South Wales workers impacted by exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos and silica.
The clinic’s screening services are free of charge and include access to x-ray, full lung function test and a medical examination with a medical specialist.
The icare clinic boosts service times where appointment, diagnosis and medical certification can be completed quickly. This allows for the determination of workers’ claim within 10 to 30 days, compared to 30 to 180 days when completed by external providers.
Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations Dominic Perrottet, who was at the official opening ceremony, said combining three distinct lung screening services in one location reduced the time customers must wait for specialist appointments and diagnoses by more than 80 per cent.
“It is vital they have access to timely, convenient and state-of-the-art medical care and support.”
The icare clinic has been designed around the patient, with the latest medical technology and is fully wheelchair accessible.
The centre also provides options for expanded service and support offerings to all icare’s customers over time, including community groups offering peer services.
“The NSW Government has provided medical screening services to employers and people impacted by exposure to hazardous dust for over 40 years,” Perrottet said.
“We are always working to identify and prevent illnesses as well as improve quality of life for workers diagnosed with a dust disease and their families.”