The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has arrived in Walgett with a team of specialists from
Royal Far West bringing important healthcare to country kids.
The Care Mobile is an initiative of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) as part of a shared vision with Royal Far West to improve the health of country kids. The Care Mobile is a purpose built, 12 metre long vehicle with two clinical consulting rooms and will be based at Walgett from November 7 to 11, 2011.
Royal Far West Clinical Services Manager Petra Milnes said the Care Mobile was in Walgett for follow-up appointments with young Royal Far West patients, who were either previously seen at the Royal Far West facility in Manly or as part of the outreach program in the towns of Walgett, Collarenebri, Lightning Ridge and Goodooga.
“We’re excited to increase our visits to towns like Walgett. Previously, we’d held speech therapy clinics in Walgett every four months but now we are looking at visiting in the Care Mobile every three months,” Ms Milnes said.
“We’re also meeting with community leaders across Walgett, Collarenebri and Lightning Ridge and taking referrals from schools and other professionals who have a child they think might benefit from our speech therapy services in the future.”
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is managed co-operatively by Royal Far West and the Board of the soon to be built Ronald McDonald House in Orange. RMHC CEO Malcolm Coutts OAM said the Care Mobile was a very important initiative.
“We are truly thrilled about our partnership with Royal Far West and the opportunity to help more children and families in rural and remote areas of NSW,” Mr Coutts said.
“Providing specialist health services from the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile directly to rural and remote communities will be very beneficial to country children and their families.”
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and Royal Far West team will be at the Walgett Health Service at 141 Fox Street, Walgett from 8.30am to 4.30pm November 7 to 11, 2011. Parents and teachers are encouraged to drop by and find out more about the services of Royal Far West.
The speech pathologists working on the Care Mobile will visit Collarenebri during the week to see some young patients and the Care Mobile will be in Lightning Ridge at 20 Pandora St, from November 15 to 18, 2011.
