Gold Coast Hospital Foundation funds new life-saving mobile ECMO service vehicle  getting to those in critical need faster.

Gold Coast locals are some of the luckiest Queenslanders—not just because of our white sand beaches and sunny weather, but because we have access to a world-class ECMO Life Support service at Gold Coast University Hospital, which has recently been awarded Silver Status by the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation.

But what happens if you’re not at Gold Coast University Hospital or live in an area without an ECMO service? Thanks to a generous donation from Sheila and Bernard’s Life Saving Medical Equipment Fund, along with support from Hinterland Toyota, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation has been able to fund a new life-saving Mobile ECMO Service.

This new dedicated Mobile ECMO Service vehicle is a brand-new Toyota Hiace Commuter, custom-fitted to house life-saving equipment, including an ECMO life-support machine, and has room for five highly trained ECMO doctors and nurses. It will enhance patient outcomes, buying the ECMO team precious time when they receive a critical call from another hospital or facility.

Dr James Winearls GC Health ICU Specialist and Clinical Lead for the ECMO Service and Ellen Stokes GC Health Clinical Nurse Consultant for the ECMO Service are extremely grateful and excited for the arrival of their dedicated Mobile ECMO Service van. 

An ECMO machine, or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation machine, is an extraordinary life support device that temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and lungs, allowing the patient’s organs to rest and recover. It can be used when a patient experiences heart or lung failure, resulting from heart attacks, or even bad cases of influenza.

“It’s amazing technology and saves the lives of patients who otherwise would have unfortunately succumbed to their illnesses. Having a new dedicated ECMO van is helping us reduce the time it takes to reach these critically ill patients. ECMO is often their last hope, and the sooner we can place them on ECMO support, the better their chances of survival,” said Dr. James Winearls, Gold Coast University Hospital Intensive Care Specialist and ECMO Consultant.

The new mobile ECMO service will help critically ill patients, traveling within a 300km radius. For trips outside that radius, the vehicle will be used to transport the team and vital medical equipment to the airport if aeromedical support is required.

“Having a vehicle of this size and already onsite enables us to reach patients as quickly and safely as possible,” added Dr. Winearls.

The vehicle also ensures that local Gold Coast patients who require ECMO intervention at Robina Hospital and the new Coomera Hospital will have better access to the Gold Coast University Hospital ECMO service. “It will allow us to provide all the necessary facilities to the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service in a timely manner, ensuring equitable access for all patients within the Gold Coast community,” said Dr. Winearls.

Thanks to the generosity of Hinterland Toyota, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation can ensure the vehicle remains serviced and safe for the next three years as part of their commitment to the local community.

Hinterland Toyota Dealer Principal Ben Duncan, Julian Rippin Group Fleet Manager and Breeze Hue Marketing, Communications, Brand & Loyalty Manager were thrilled to hand the keys over to Joe and Christine at their Robina dealership. 

“Hinterland Toyota is proud to partner with and support Gold Coast Hospital Foundation for the launch of the Mobile ECMO Service vehicle. This partnership involves our team providing servicing and maintenance to keep the vehicle safely and reliably on the road, where it can provide life-saving support to critical patients in need of this vital service. We’re committed to causes and initiatives like the Mobile ECMO Service that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in our community,” said Breeze Hue, Hinterland Toyota’s Marketing, Communications, Brand & Loyalty Manager.

Joe Hanlon, Chief Operating Officer of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, is humbled to see donors and local businesses come together to make this service possible.

“It has been fantastic to see the community unite to make this happen. Over the years, we have fostered a strong relationship with the trauma and ICU teams, funding facility enhancements and vital medical equipment, including the ICU waiting room upgrade and the ECMO training mannequin. Funding the Mobile ECMO Service is an integral part of our journey to support skilled clinicians and ensure our community has access to the best possible healthcare when it is needed most,” said Joe Hanlon, CEO of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation.