http://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/

Mackay Hospital and Health Service, 475 Bridge Road, Mackay (2026)

04/03/2026

World Hearing Day yesterday (3 March) was a time to recognise and raise awareness about how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. 👂

The 2026 theme is 'From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children'.
World Hearing Day shines a spotlight on the critical role hearing plays in every stage of a child’s life.

Hearing supports speech and language development, learning, social connection and emotional wellbeing. When hearing difficulties go unnoticed or untreated, the impacts can extend well beyond the ears, affecting communication, confidence and participation at school and in everyday life.

This year’s theme highlights the shared responsibility of families, health professionals, educators and communities to support children’s hearing early, and to ensure parents have the knowledge and tools they need to act with confidence.

Thank you to all the audiologists like Mackay Base Hospital’s Stephanie O’Riely who dedicate their time, skill and care to protecting and restoring one of our most meaningful senses.

Your work helps people stay connected to their families, their communities and the sounds that shape their lives. Your impact deserves to be recognised and appreciated. ⭐

03/03/2026

Do you know anyone with Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome (BMFS)?

One Australian is diagnosed with BMFS every three days and 50% of the patients diagnosed are children or young adults. These patients often require regular blood transfusions and may need a stem cell transplant for a cure.

It’s National Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome (BMFS) Awareness Week from March 2 to 8, a time to raise awareness and support patients with life-threatening bone marrow conditions.

This initiative is led by Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision in partnership with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and Stem Cell Donors Australia to support patients with life-threatening bone marrow conditions.

You can also join the fight against BMFS. Donating blood and registering as a stem cell donor are life-saving steps you can take today to help save lives:

🩸 Donate Blood: Book a donation via the Lifeblood app, website, or by calling 13 14 95.
🩸 Register for Stem Cells: Sign up through Stem Cell Donors Australia.
New blood donors are needed every 5 minutes ⏱️ and patients rely on this to survive.

Show them your support today. ❤️

02/03/2026

As a barber, Amy Hooper hears more than just small talk from her chair.

Clients often share their adventures and joys, but also their truths, including hardship, heartbreak and struggles with mental health, while she cuts or shaves their hair.

It’s this position of trust that inspired Amy, owner of Moldielox Barber, a Mackay barbershop with a difference, to commit to an annual charity event supporting grassroots mental health services.

“A lot of our clients are men who work away in mining or veterans who are really struggling with their mental health,” Amy said.

“They can be very disconnected, and they often confide in you. We see a lot of people who’ve had a really tough time and needed help.”

Moldie Meltdown is an annual event Amy created to raise funds for local mental health initiatives.

In November last year, Amy and her team raised $3,500, which was donated to the Mackay Base Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit.

The fundraiser was the second ‘Chaos for a Cause’ event hosted by Moldielox, built around the belief that “no one should have to fight their demons alone”.

In 2024, the team shaved their heads and donated the proceeds raised to a local mental health service. Last year, they took things a step further with Amy getting inked for the cause.

“To make it really interesting, whoever donated the most money got to choose the tattoo and where it went on me,” Amy said.

That honour went to long-time client and friend Phil, who donated more than $900 and chose a selfie of Amy with her head shaved from the previous year’s event. The image was tattooed onto her inner left arm in November.

It’s a picture worth a thousand words, or in this case, thousands of dollars raised for mental health.

Amy said the idea to donate funds to the hospital courtyard project was sparked by one of her regular clients, Mackay HHS Mental Health Nursing Director Mark Scanlon, who shared his vision for upgrade spaces at the Mental Health Inpatient Unit.

“We donated the money through the My Hospital Foundation because we know the funds stay local and will directly help local people,” Amy said.

“It’s just our way of giving back to a cause that’s very close to all our hearts.”

Huge thank you to Amy and her barbers - your support for our mental health unit is really a ‘cut above the rest’. ✂️ 💚

27/02/2026

A new support service for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is now available at Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS), thanks to a funding partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Mackay HHS Executive Director Operations Mackay Jenny Farley said the appointment of prostate cancer specialist nurse Louise Jackson is a first for the health service.

“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and Mackay has higher-than-average rates of diagnosis,” Ms Farley said.

“Having a dedicated specialist nurse to guide patients and families through such a stressful time can make a real difference. We are thrilled to introduce this service.”

Louise Jackson will support anyone with a prostate cancer diagnosis, regardless of whether they are public or private patients.

“I'll be based at Mackay Base Hospital and will visit the Icon Cancer Centre on a regular basis,” she said.

“Anyone can self-refer simply by giving me a call.”

Ms Jackson said her role is to help patients navigate the health system, understand their treatment options and support the management of side effects.

“I’m here to answer their questions—what treatment involves, where to get tests done—and to help ease the fears that come with a cancer diagnosis,” she said.

“Having someone on the ground to provide that support is incredibly important for patients and their families.

“In its early stages, prostate cancer often has no symptoms,” Ms Jackson said.

“If you have a family history of the disease please talk to your doctor as your risk may be higher.”

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia encourages men over 40 to speak with their doctor about having a simple PSA blood test for early detection.

PCFA CEO Anne Savage said the introduction of a dedicated prostate cancer specialist nurse in Mackay marks a major step forward for local men and their families.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Mackay HHS to fund this position and ensure men in the region have access to the specialised care they deserve,” Ms Savage said.

“Mackay has among the highest incidence and mortality rates in Australia, with high numbers of men and families in need of specialist support.

“Having a specialist nurse on the ground means men will have someone in their corner throughout survivorship, helping them understand treatment, navigate the system, and feel supported every step of the way.”

Ms Savage said the new role will help reduce distress, improve treatment outcomes, and ensure families in Mackay are not alone.

“This service will make a meaningful difference for local men — and we are honoured to help make it possible,” she said.

Anyone with a confirmed prostate cancer diagnosis can contact Louise Jackson on 0498 569 868 or email MKY-Prostate-Cancer-Specialist-Nurse@health.qld.gov.au
For more information about prostate cancer, visit www.prostate.org.au or phone 1800 22 00 99.

📷 Russell Briggs from Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia and Prostate Cancer specialist nurse Louise Jackson at Mackay Base Hospital.

25/02/2026

We're back Doin' the Rounds with Mackay HHS health promotion officer Bree.
Booking a BreastScreen appointment and completing your National Bowel Cancer Testing kit might just save your life. Don't delay, act today.

25/02/2026

Did you know some urgent medical conditions can be seen virtually? 💻

Using the Virtual Emergency Care Service (VECS) could save you time and get you the help you need sooner.

The VECS team will triage your concern and, if appropriate, place you in a queue to see the Emergency Doctor for a telehealth consultation.

VECS is a free service for all Queenslanders with a Medicare card.
You can access VECS here https://buff.ly/4eHOrrr

Not sure if VECS is right for you? Use the Symptom Checker to find the best option of care for you: https://buff.ly/3AGcN5O

Other ways to seek help can include:
☎️ For confidential health advice over the phone, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
🩺 For non-urgent medical issues, please consult your GP.
💉Make an appointment for a flu vaccination with your pharmacy or GP.

Remember, in an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000). 🚑

23/02/2026

From cyclones and multi-trauma emergencies to maternity care and end-of-life medicine, rural healthcare demands doctors who are ready for anything.

Few understand that reality better than Dr Hannah Trimble, whose career across Far North and regional Queensland has shaped both her clinical expertise and her commitment to rural communities.

A highly experienced rural generalist, Dr Trimble now steps into a new and challenging leadership role as Director of Rural Medical Services at Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS).

Her career journey through rural hospitals has given her a deep appreciation of the complexity, responsibility and resilience required of a medical workforce.

“To be a rural generalist you have to be practical, adaptable, decisive and be comfortable with uncertainty,” Dr Trimble said.

“We are very experienced and passionate consultants who are not anonymous to our patients – outcomes and experiences matter in any facility but I think that runs really deep in smaller communities where we are known much more intimately,” she said.

Dr Trimble has been the Acting Director of Medical Services at Proserpine Hospital since October 2022 before taking on her latest role this month while still maintaining a clinical role there as a rural generalist obstetrician.

“Proserpine Hospital is one of the busiest rural hospitals in the state with a large medical team, I am very proud to be part of that and to have had that experience in leadership,” she said.

“It has helped me prepare for this role and given me a large network of colleagues and other leaders to draw on.”

After her rural GP training with ACRRM (Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine), she joined the Proserpine Hospital team in 2009 as a senior medical officer and later completed obstetrics and gynaecology as an advanced skill at Mackay Base Hospital.

“Although I thought of other specialities early in my career, I have the best of everything as a rural generalist, you can literally be anything and everything,” she said.

“There is not a more rewarding or challenging job and I am very lucky to be doing it here in the Whitsundays.”

Read more here: https://www.mackay.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/news/workforce-the-greatest-reward-and-challenge-in-new-role

20/02/2026

Today is Mental Health Nurses’ Day (20 February), a time to recognise the extraordinary impact mental health nurses have on individuals, families and our community.

Their work reaches far beyond clinical care. It’s about advocacy, education, and creating safe, supportive spaces where people can explore their emotional wellbeing with dignity and trust.

With compassion and highly specialised expertise, mental health nurses support people through anxiety, depression, stress and complex emotional experiences, fostering resilience, hope and recovery. It’s work that is deeply challenging, emotionally demanding, and absolutely vital.

At Mackay HHS, we thank our mental health nurses for their courage, commitment and heart.

Today, we honour your compassion in times of darkness, your calm in moments of crisis, and your steady presence during uncertainty.

💚 Thank you for the difference you make, every single day.

18/02/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome 67 brand-new graduate nurses and midwives to the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) as they begin their healthcare careers across Mackay Base Hospital and our rural facilities. 🩺

With two intakes, the first this month and next in March, our grads will spend the next 12 months building confidence and clinical skills across about 25 different clinical areas, from the emergency department, mental health and oncology to theatres, cardiac and surgical units.

A big shout-out to the 15 graduates heading rural, supporting our communities in Proserpine, Clermont, Bowen, Sarina and Dysart, and to our two midwifery graduates joining the program this year. 👶

Many of our new grads studied at CQUniversity Australia and JCU: James Cook University, Australia with others joining us from across Queensland and New South Wales. There’s even a few Kiwis from across the ditch! 🥝

We welcome you to Mackay HHS. With strong mentoring, hands-on learning and ongoing support, we’re excited to see you grow into confident, capable nurses and midwives.

Here’s to the start of an incredible career in healthcare – we’re so glad you’re here! 🙌

17/02/2026

Want to acknowledge a Mackay HHS midwife for their care and dedication to maternal and newborn health? 👶

You can say a special thank you and show your appreciation for the incredible work and support of midwives during pregnancy, labour, birth and post natal.

Nominate a midwife today for the Mackay HHS 2026 Exceptional Midwifery Care Provider Award.

International Day of the Midwife will be held on 5 May and an awards ceremony is being held at our facilities to celebrate our wonderful midwives and recognise their outstanding contributions.

The Exceptional Midwifery Care Provider Award is open for nomination to patients and consumers who have accessed midwifery services at any of our hospitals and health facilities between 1 May 2025 to 31 March 2026.

You can complete a nomination form here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CLBlC9eVvEq6_D_8IMA5wLe5btInfqlIqxIY4dWiTG5UNVBKQU81VzJSRTQ1REcxQTlNQUpNMkdMVi4u

Nominations close Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

16/02/2026

Did you know some urgent medical conditions can be seen virtually? 💻

Using the Virtual Emergency Care Service (VECS) could save you time and get you the help you need sooner.

The VECS team will triage your concern and, if appropriate, place you in a queue to see the Emergency Doctor for a telehealth consultation.

VECS is a free service for all Queenslanders with a Medicare card. You can access VECS here https://buff.ly/4eHOrrr

Not sure if VECS is right for you? Use the Symptom Checker to find the best option of care for you: https://buff.ly/3AGcN5O

Other ways to seek help can include:
☎️ For confidential health advice over the phone, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
🩺 For non-urgent medical issues, please consult your GP.
💉Make an appointment for a flu vaccination with your pharmacy or GP.

Remember, in an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000). 🚑

13/02/2026

Mackay Base Hospital laundry supervisor Scott Vella-Campbell and the Linen Services team have washed, folded and sorted surplus blankets to hand over to the Safe Sleep project.

is a non-profit organisation which is finalising arrangements to launch their first Safe Sleep bus.

This will operate as a temporary overnight service on weekends, providing secure pods, and a safe place to rest for those with nowhere else to sleep - offering dignity, safety, and protection from the elements.

Safe Sleep Mackay is still fundraising to get two other buses finished and operational.

You can find out more about making a donation or volunteering via their page or by visiting:
👉 www.safesleepmackay.com.au

👏 A big thank you to our Linen Services team, who have also supported the work of Chances House through donations of surplus towels and unclaimed clothing. 👏

📸 MBH laundry supervisor Scott Vella-Campbell with Sleep Bus Mackay representative Shelley Argent.

Mackay Hospital and Health Service

04/03/2026

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