A NEW neurology diagnostic service has opened for Far North Queensland patients, made possible by funds raised by 10 runners who pushed a wheelbarrow 140 kilometres over three days in the 2025 Great Wheelbarrow Race, for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
Cairns Hospital Neurology Director Dr Ian Wilson said the new electroencephalogram (EEG) machine was being used for patients to take home to diagnose epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
“Previously this service was occasionally offered in hospital but as you can imagine, it’s a lot harder to be relaxed enough to sleep in the hospital environment to get an accurate reading, so it’s much better to do that in the home,” Dr Wilson said.
“Patients having recurrent seizures and collapses can suffer a very difficult time trying to get a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Seizures occur briefly and randomly, and patients are often back to normal by the time they can seek medical help.”
An EEG is a test that records the brain’s electrical activity using small electrodes attached to the scalp. It can help diagnose the cause of seizures. Previous hospital-based EEG rarely provided the ability to capture sleep, when electrical activity might be more active. It also did not allow clinicians to capture EEG activity at home in the patient’s usual environment, where seizures often occur.
“The new system consists of a small suitcase and a wearable device which can combine video and EEG monitoring. The technology enables the recording of brainwaves for prolonged periods of time and enables patients to take the equipment to their own homes while the recording is being conducted,” Dr Wilson said.
“It has already proven its worth diagnosing patients who would otherwise have had ongoing uncertainty about their condition.”
The Down Under Movers and Shakers team in the 2025 Great Wheelbarrow Race was inspired and led by long-time neurology patient Brian White, who lives with Parkinson’s Disease, with the support of the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
“People might ask why I don’t stay at home and swallow my pills and watch TV but Michael J Fox has lived with the disease for 39 years. I was only diagnosed when I was in my 70s and I’m 84 now. I’ve had it for 13 years and I’d really like to get to 20. Besides, I have a special reason in my wife, who I’d like to be around for,” Mr White said of his motivation to keep being active and participating.
Fellow runner Max Bryant and son Chris took part in support of their wife and mother Wendy, who also has Parkinson’s Disease.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said it was a powerful example of what our community could achieve when people rally together for better health care.
“Ten determined runners, a wheelbarrow and 140 kilometres have helped deliver life‑changing technology that will make a real difference for patients across Far North Queensland,” Mrs Hogan said.
“Being able to diagnose neurological conditions like epilepsy in a patient’s own home not only improves comfort and accuracy, it reduces uncertainty and helps people get the right treatment sooner – and that’s exactly what the Foundation exists to support: care closer to home,” she said.
*The Down Under Movers and Shakers are looking at putting another team in this year’s Great Wheelbarrow Race. To take part, contact Foundation Fundraising and Marketing Manager Jenny Coates.
Photo: Celebrating the arrival of a new EEG service at Cairns Hospital are wheelbarrow pusher donor and sponsor Max Bryant, donor Joan Whyte, team instigator Brian White, Cairns Hospital Neurology Director Dr Ian Wilson and Foundation CEO Gina Hogan.
