Townsville Hospital and Health Service

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Townsville Hospital and Health Service

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The Townsville HHS comprises 21 facilities across its catchment; 19 hospitals and community health campuses and two residential aged care facilities. It covers a geographic expanse extending north to Cardwell, west to Richmond, south to Home Hill, and east to Magnetic and Palm Islands. As northern Australia’s only tertiary-level health service, the HHS services an extensive catchment stretching fr

om Mackay in the south, north to the Torres Strait Islands, and west to the Northern Territory border. We have a catchment population of 695,000 people and growing, with a geographical footprint of 148,000 square kilometres. At the centre is Townsville University Hospital (TUH) - the only tertiary referral hospital in North Queensland. TUH provides the latest in cardiac, obstetric, gynaecological, paediatric, neurosurgical, orthopaedic, cancer, mental health, neonatal, allied health, and intensive care services. To find out more, click here: https://www.townsville.health.qld.gov.au/
To find out more about career opportunities, click here: https://www.townsville.health.qld.gov.au/career-opportunities/

09/08/2025

When registered nurse Harvey Ligsay decided to swap the urban sprawl of Canberra for outback serenity, it was only a matter of time before it became a family affair at the Hughenden Multipurpose Health Service. 🏢🌱

“I love working in rural towns and I can’t see myself going back to a busy big hospital anymore,” Harvey said.

Luckily for him, his daughter Stephanie decided to follow him to Hughenden, which has a population just over 1000 people.

“I was already working full time in Canberra, but I missed my family, so I came here just to visit at first,” Stephanie said.

“I occasionally do some agency work, so sometimes I’ll take a break and work elsewhere, but because I missed my sister especially, I came here and ended up staying.”

The father-daughter team have been enjoying he outback experience together.

“Hughenden is such a beautiful are, the sunsets are beautiful, and the lake is good to walk around and get some exercise,” Harvey said. 🌅

“I love the staff we get to work with here; Karen the director of nursing is amazing and has created a great workplace,” Stephanie said.

Hughenden is lucky to have you both! 💙🏥

08/08/2025

A special event was held at Townsville University Hospital yesterday to celebrate the official launch of the region’s Universal Aftercare program, a milestone that recognises collaboration as the cornerstone of effective su***de prevention. 💙

The program is delivered by Wellways Australia in partnership with the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) and Northern Queensland Primary Health Network.

Universal Aftercare services are available for people 15 years and older who have attempted su***de or who are experiencing a suicidal crisis through free, person-centred support.

THHS Chief Executive Kieran Keyes said the introduction of the Universal Aftercare program represented a meaningful step forward in strengthening mental health support for the community. 🙌💛

“This initiative ensures that individuals who have experienced a suicidal crisis are met with timely, compassionate support as they begin their recovery journey," he said.

“By working closely with NQPHN and Wellways, we’re strengthening the safety net for our community and reaffirming our commitment to accessible, high-quality mental health care for those who need it most.”

Referrals to Universal Aftercare are currently made exclusively by THHS clinical staff.

07/08/2025

Based out of Charters Towers, Daisha and Wendy travel hundreds of kilometres across outback Queensland to bring important and culturally appropriate health information to First Nations communities. 🩵🪴

They are among the more than 280 Townsville Hospital and Health Service First Nations health workers being celebrated today for the National Day of Recognition for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners.

Daisha and Wendy are out on the road and in the community attending events big and small to engage with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about healthcare.

They’re out there building trust and are an important link between health services and rural residents.

Congratulations and thank you Daisha, Wendy, and all our Indigenous health workers for being a vital and reliable resource towards improved health and wellbeing outcomes for First Nations Australians. 💙 🏥

06/08/2025

Midwife Kieri delivering performance of a lifetime in Townsville production 👶🎭

Kieri Darrigan is no stranger to caring for others, whether it’s welcoming new life as a midwife at Townsville University Hospital (TUH) or bringing joy to theatre audiences.

This August, she’ll be doing just that as she takes the stage in the Townsville Choral Society’s vibrant new musical production of &Juliet.

Running from August 14 to 23 at the Townsville Civic Theatre, &Juliet flips the script on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, set to a soundtrack of pop anthems by Max Martin. 🎶🎧

Kieri has worked at TUH across the maternity birth suite and emergency department for the past eight years and very fittingly will be playing the lead role of Angelique, Juliet’s nurse, in the August production.

Kieri said it had been fun leaning into the role of Angelique, a sharp-tongued and spirited nurse who leads Juliet through her journey.

“I think my real-life nursing experience helps me to bring a nurturing quality to the character,” Kieri said.

Kieri said she had been involved with the musical theatre community in Townsville for about ten years, participating in countless shows.💙

“I’ve performed on stage, worked backstage, and even played French horn in the band,” Kieri said.

“Theatre offers a sense of community, creativity, and joy, and on top of all of that I have met some of my closest friends through my involvement in shows.

“&Juliet will definitely be one of the highlights of Townsville’s theatre calendar and I encourage everyone to get their tickets.”

Tickets are available now via Townsville City Council TicketShop 🎫 Townsville Choral Society

01/08/2025

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱

Applications are now open for various Board Chair and member positions across all Queensland Hospital and Health Boards.

Applications close on Sunday 7 September 2025.

For more information, visit https://www.careers.health.qld.gov.au/join-a-hospital-board

30/07/2025

For Townsville University Hospital enrolled nurse Maddy Harland, life finally began when she received a long-awaited liver transplant at the age of 25. 🏥💙

Maddy fell into a coma at three-days-old and at three-years-old was diagnosed with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS1) deficiency.

Maddy said her diagnosis meant years of managing symptoms and putting hobbies on the shelf.

“I’ve always loved horse-riding and wanted to be a jockey, but I wasn’t able to fully commit due to my illness,” Maddy said. 🐎

Maddy said in the years leading up to her transplant she was in hospital on average every six weeks, including stints in the intensive care unit (ICU).

In 2021, Maddy received the call to move to Brisbane in preparation for a vital liver transplant and after just three weeks she received her transplant.

Maddy said the transplant not only kept her alive, but was transformative.

“In the years following my surgery, I have gone from strength to strength,” she said.

“I am getting married next year and will graduate from my Bachelor of Nursing at the end of this year. 💍🎓

“My goal is to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a flight nurse, to bring critical care to remote communities across Australia.”

Maddy said she encouraged everyone to have the conversation with their loved ones this DonateLife Week.

“You never know what tomorrow has in store and if your family is faced with the choice, they can at least have an idea of your wishes,” Maddy said.

“If I could say anything to my donor’s family, it would be thank you.

“Their choice at a time that is full of so much grief has given me a second chance and the option of a future that I would never have had.

“It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am.

"It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at the DonateLife website or through your Medicare account.” 💻 💙 DonateLife

29/07/2025

We’re excited to be part of a new era of healthcare for North Queenslanders! 📊💡

Townsville Hospital and Health Service is proud to partner with the Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC), based at the University of Queensland, to unlock the power of clinical data and improve healthcare across our region.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Director of Clinical Research and adult nephrologist Professor Andrew Mallett said the partnership would allow the health service to better use digital systems to improve patient care.

“This partnership helps us turn our digital health system into a powerful tool for discovering better ways to deliver care, not just for today, but for the future of healthcare in our community,” Professor Mallett said.

QDHeC Director Professor Clair Sullivan said the collaboration would help transform data into meaningful improvements.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Townsville Hospital and Health Service to build a strong, digitally enabled healthcare team; North Queensland has a broad and diverse health landscape, and by working together, we can deliver better outcomes across the region."

Well done to all involved! 👏

25/07/2025

It’s a historic day for North Queensland! 🎉🩺

This morning, Queensland Governor Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM officially opened the North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service at Townsville University Hospital – the first of its kind outside south-east Queensland.

Julie Hogben, a 23-year-old patient from Townsville, said the new service gave her the opportunity for a “second start at life.”

“This service means I can receive a transplant locally then recover close to family and not spend months away in Brisbane; it gives me real hope for the future,” she said.

North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service Director Dr Michelle Harfield said the service was co-designed with regional patients like Julie in mind.

“Under our model of care, transplant surgeries will be performed at Townsville University Hospital, while pre- and post-transplant care will be delivered through hospitals and facilities across the region, close to where patients live,” she said.

"With a $15 million annual investment from the Queensland Government, this world-class service will change lives across the north, including Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Mount Isa, Cape York, and the Torres Strait."

24/07/2025

💗As DonateLife Week approaches, the Townsville Hospital and Health Service reflects on the life and legacy of one of its own, Tess Thompson, whose final act of organ donation continues to inspire. 💗

Tess was a critical care nurse with 30 years’ experience and passed away suddenly in 2024 from a suspected heart attack.

Tess’s close friend of 25 years and fellow critical care outreach nurse Tash Mastrippolito said Tess lived and breathed her work as a nurse.

“Everyone knew Tess," Tash said.

“Her work was her life; she was so dedicated.”

“She had a strong character and was very straightforward, deeply committed to patient advocacy, and had this incredible ability to challenge you and support you at the same time.

“That’s why so many of us looked up to her.”

DonateLife Week runs from Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August, and is a time to remember the individuals who gave the gift of life and raise awareness of the importance of encouraging people to talk about donation and register their decision.

“Tess was a passionate advocate for organ donation, so much so that when we opened Tess’s wallet her donor card was right there in plain sight,” Tash said.

“Her father, sisters, and close friends collaborated to choose the path of organ donation, as it was her wish.

“It is special that on the most tragic day of a family’s life, they can feel some peace knowing that their loved one was able to help somebody else.

“Tess’s gift was one little glimmer of hope for all of us in the midst of losing her.”

Learn more about organ donation, and how to register: https://www.donatelife.gov.au/donatelifeweek

23/07/2025

Tomorrow morning, look out for kangaroos, dingoes, emus, butterflies and a range of other animals riding bikes on Woolcock St as the 25th Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride kicks off! 🦘 🐕 🦋 🦅 🚴

Ride waves, named after the animals above, will begin departing the Mercure Hotel on Woolcock St early Thursday morning, raising money for the Children’s Cancer Institute.

Townsville University Hospital nursing director patient access, TCBR president, and kangaroo David Eakin said it’s going to be a very emotional ride for many of the first timers.

“When you do your first one, that feeling when you roll into Cairns, you come off the highway and realise you’re actually there… you get this amazing sense of achievement,” he said.

Gastroenterologist, TCBR sponsorship and fundraising coordinator, and emu Dr John Masson will be pulling on the lycra for the 16th time said it’s never lost on him the stories from fellow riders and how much the ride means to them.

“There’s an abundance of stories from people on the ride who have said they’re riding because of a relative or their child has had a brush with cancer,” he said.

Manager medical education and workforce services, TCBR treasurer, and dingo Joanne Tallon said the ride, despite the tough terrain, was always a great atmosphere.

“I remember my first ride, feeling very nervous riding on the highway for three days… but getting on the bike, joining the group, the camaraderie really makes it, and I had a lot of fun,” she said.

🙌 Take care on the road team, and if you can help the event reach its $400,000 fundraising goal, jump onto www.tcbr.org.au to donate. 💸 💸

18/07/2025

One, two, three, four! 👶👶👶👶

Ingham’s maternity services welcomed FOUR babies within 24 hours in April, a special way to mark their ninth anniversary since reopening.

Giorgia Firmi, Marites Carao, Hannah Bestmann, and Leah Dingwell’s children will forever have a special bond, having been born within the same 24 hours on April 7 and 8.

First-time mother, Marites had nothing but praise for the birthing team. 💙

“It’s a very exciting journey and the midwives and doctors supported me throughout my entire pregnancy, through to the delivery and after care,” she said.

The service was previously closed for 10 years before community advocacy saw it reopened on Jul 1, 2016.

Senior medical officer, Dr Carmel Cockburn said the birthing service had much to celebrate over the past nine years.

“The ability to provide a safe and consistent rural birthing service despite workplace shortages across rural Australia has been a huge achievement,” she said.

“Our team includes midwives, rural generalists with obstetric and anaesthetic skills as well as theatre nurses for those times when caesarean section or operative complications arise.”

The service accepts referrals via local GPs or self-referral, by calling 07 4720 3050.

17/07/2025

Kids living with diabetes a campfire story these school holidays 🔥

When 10-year-old Mason Mein was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, life changed overnight. But thanks to the annual kids type 1 diabetes camp run by Townsville University Hospital staff and volunteers, Mason found connection, comfort, and a whole lot of fun.

From campfires to games and shared stories, this camp helps children and families living with diabetes feel seen, supported, and empowered. 🌴💙

Check out the video to learn more about the camp. ⬇️🎥

Huge thanks to our diabetes clinic staff and all the volunteers who make this special weekend possible.

Address

100 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas
Townsville, QLD
4814

Telephone

+61744331111

Website

https://www.townsville.health.qld.gov.au/

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