CALL TO ACTION FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME, SKILLS AND RESOURCES FOR THE HOMELESS
People In Health Care
Dr Daniel Nour, Founder of Street Side Medics and
Cardiology Advanced Trainee, Royal North Shore Hospital
Filmed in Sydney, New South Wales | November 2024
Identifying a gap in the healthcare of vulnerable people in New South Wales, Dr Daniel Nour founded Street Side Medics in August 2020, a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness.
Dr. Daniel Nour is a cardiology advanced trainee at Royal North Shore Hospital and the founder of Street Side Medics, a mobile medical service dedicated to providing GP-led care to individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative started from a customised van, which serves as a medical clinic, visiting food services and shelters across New South Wales and recently Victoria. Street Side Medics offers free medical care without requiring documentation, ID, or a Medicare card.
Understanding the barriers to healthcare faced by homeless individuals—such as lack of documentation, transportation issues, stigma, and prioritisation of basic needs like shelter and food—Dr. Nour aimed to create a supportive environment for care. His motivation stemmed from a personal experience in London when he encountered a man having a seizure, which opened his eyes to the healthcare challenges faced by the homeless community.
In October, Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Nour at the MedTech24 conference organised by the Medical Technology Association of Australia, where he was the keynote speaker. He talks about the origins of Street Side Medics, the organisation’s growth across New South Wales as well as Victoria, the impact of point of care pathology related technology and the dedication of the health care professionals giving up their time on a voluntary basis for the homeless requiring medical attention.
Since launching in August 2020, Street Side Medics has expanded to ten clinics in New South Wales and one in Victoria, supported by approximately 600 volunteers. The average attendance at clinics ranges from 10 to 20 people per night, influenced by weather conditions. The service leverages medical technology, such as point-of-care testing machines, to deliver quick and effective diagnoses, empowering patients with immediate care solutions. Dr. Nour’s commitment stems from both a personal belief in giving back to the community and a desire to enhance the lives of those he serves.
Dr. Daniel Nour is deeply moved by the generosity of Street Side Medics volunteers who dedicate their time each week, despite their busy lives. He highlights two main reasons for their involvement: the rewarding opportunity to use professional skills for community benefit and the profound fulfilment gained from helping those who lack access to care. Dr. Nour emphasises that volunteers provide essential services that many would otherwise miss. He calls on healthcare professionals—specialists, General Practitioners, junior doctors, and nurses—to join Street Side Medics, as the organisation continues to grow and needs dedicated individuals to support their mission.
With his leadership and social consciousness, Dr Nour is committed to making a real difference to the lives of many Australians. He’s also making significant improvements to society. In 2022 he was awarded the 2022 Young Australian of the Year.
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Redefining diversity in clinical trials
Ensuring inclusion, diversity, equity and patient input in the development of novel drugs and medical devices has become well accepted in health care. However appropriate implementation of these elements has been a challenge for many. Only by implementing these conscious inputs can patient outcomes be improved and health disparities in marginalised groups be addressed.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Gillian Mason, Consumer and Community Involvement Lead at Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle, NSW on this topic discussed at the recent ARCS Conference in Sydney.
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Mission to raise awareness of sarcoma and need for clinical trial funding
Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, remains the deadliest cancer for children and young adults, accounting for nearly one third (30%) of cancer-related deaths among those aged 15–24 and one tenth (10%) of those aged 0–14. Further, still severely under-diagnosed, sarcoma only accounts for one sixth (15%) of all cancer diagnoses in the 15 – 24 age group, and less than a tenth (8%) among children under 10.
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Expansion of specialist training in regional & rural areas
Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) states, ”Our rural and regional communities deserve the same access to specialist care as our cities. We’re seeing real results from our colleges’ commitment to rural training.”
