PATIENTS across Far North Queensland can now access world‑class heart and lung testing close to home, with Cairns Hospital introducing advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in its Respiratory Department – thanks to community support through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
For the first time, people who previously had to travel to Brisbane while unwell can now undergo this complex, internationally recognised diagnostic test right here in Cairns – reducing stress, cost and disruption for patients and families across the region.
The $67,000 system was funded through the Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge, where hundreds of cyclists ride from Cairns to Cooktown each year to raise funds for medical equipment and services across Far North Queensland.
Thoracic Medicine and Sleep Disorders Clinical Measurements Director Janine Ferns said CPET was considered the gold standard for investigating unexplained breathlessness and assessing how well a person’s heart, lungs and muscles work together during exercise. It plays a critical role in diagnosing complex respiratory and cardiac conditions and in determining whether patients are fit enough to safely undergo major surgery.
“Until now, our patients needing this level of assessment often faced long journeys south – sometimes multiple times – for testing and follow‑up care. Delivering CPET locally removes that burden and ensures patients can receive a full, international‑standard pulmonary work‑up without leaving the region. During the test, patients ride a stationary exercise bike while specialist equipment closely monitors oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, breathing patterns, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels. The results give clinicians a detailed, real‑time picture of how the heart and lungs perform under physical stress – information that cannot be obtained through standard tests alone,” Ms Ferns said.
“In simple terms, CPET helps doctors pinpoint why a patient becomes short of breath – whether the limitation is coming from the lungs, the heart, the muscles, or a combination of factors – allowing treatment to be tailored with far greater accuracy.”
Clinical Director of Thoracic and Sleep Medicine Dr Stephen Vincent, also a Cardiac Challenge participant, said the National Lung Cancer Screening Program meant they anticipated numbers to increase and the equipment would be in great demand.
The test is used across a wide range of clinical scenarios, including:
- Chronic respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, pulmonary vascular disease and cystic fibrosis
- Patients with both heart and lung disease, where identifying the primary cause of exercise limitation is crucial
- Pre‑operative assessment before major procedures, including lung and abdominal surgery
- Evaluation for complex interventions such as lung volume reduction surgery and heart or lung transplantation.
CPET is particularly valuable in surgical planning, helping specialists predict how well a patient is likely to tolerate major surgery and recover afterwards – improving safety and outcomes.
The new service has started after the move into Cairns Hospital’s newly expanded Respiratory Clinics, where the larger laboratory space enhances patient safety and supports delivery to best‑practice standards.
CPET system integrates seamlessly with the department’s existing lung function equipment, using the same software and consumables to enable efficient testing, reporting and follow‑up care.
Patients being considered for heart or lung transplantation also require extensive pre‑surgical testing, with CPET playing a central role in assessing suitability and likely outcomes.
Foundation Fundraising & Marketing Manager Jenny Coates said the equipment would be a game-changer for patients across the region.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge riders and supporters, people who are already unwell can now access world-class cardiopulmonary testing close to home, without the stress, cost and disruption of travelling elsewhere,” Mrs Coates said.
“This is exactly what the Foundation exists to do – help bring leading-edge health care to our region and keep care where it belongs, right here in the Far North,” she said.
The Foundation’s partnership with Australian Retirement Trust and the Foundation’s social enterprises, enables 100 percent of funds raised by participants to support cardiac health services in Far North Queensland match the standard of care in metropolitan regions.
Australian Retirement Trust’s General Manager Commercial Relationships Patrick Twomey, who is looking forward to participating in his third event, reflected on its spirit and Australian Retirement Trust’s continued support.
“We’re proud to have sponsored the event since 2020, and excited to support the event in its milestone 20th year as the Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge,” Mr Twomey said.
“This year also marks the fourth year our team has participated in the riding challenge. It’s incredibly rewarding for us to see the impact the funds raised for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation have on increasing access to vital health services in these communities and improving regional health outcomes,” he said.
Registrations are now open for the 20th anniversary Australian Retirement Trust Cardiac Challenge – find out more at www.cardiacchallenge.com.au. - Photo: Thoracic Medicine and Sleep Disorders Clinical Measurements Director Janine Ferns, Clinical Director of Thoracic and Sleep Medicine Dr Stephen Vincent and Foundation Fundraising & Marketing Manager Jenny Coates with the new equipment.
