Far North Queenslanders now have access to enhanced cancer care closer to home, thanks to a partnership between the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, its generous donors and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS).
The $5.6 million Cancer Care Hub at Cairns Hospital has been brought to life through more than $1.5 million in community fundraising, with support from local donors, events and corporate partners helping transform cancer care for the region.
Funds raised through initiatives including the Foundation’s signature events, community giving and donor contributions have helped deliver a range of patient-focused improvements, including:
• A beautiful new outdoor balcony on Level 2, D Block, offering patients, families and friends a welcoming space with one of the best hospital views in Australia
• A significantly expanded pharmacy enabling local manufacture of chemotherapy drugs
• A refurbished day oncology treatment space in the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre
• A larger, modern meeting room with upgraded teleconferencing technology to better support rural and remote patients
• Increased patient interview rooms to enable more private health conferences.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said the project was a powerful example of what could be achieved when the community came together to support local healthcare. “This Cancer Care Hub exists because our community stepped up,” Mrs Hogan said. “Every ticket purchased at a fundraising event, every donation made and every partnership formed has helped create a space that supports patients not just clinically, but emotionally and socially as well. “We are incredibly grateful to the donors, event participants and supporters who made this possible. Their generosity is making a real difference for people facing cancer in Far North Queensland.”
CHHHS Chief Executive Leena Singh said the Cancer Care Hub represented a transformative step forward for cancer care in the region. “This project is about creating a space that fosters healing, comfort and connection for patients and their loved ones during some of the most challenging times of their lives,” Ms Singh said.
“Our new balcony space provides a calming environment with stunning views of the Cairns Esplanade and Coral Sea, supporting emotional wellbeing alongside the excellent medical care we deliver.”
She said the refurbished day oncology space increased capacity with additional treatment chairs, bringing the total to 20. “This means we can treat more patients each day and improve access to lifesaving care,” she said.
“Our new expanded pharmacy inside the Cancer Care Centre will allow local production of chemotherapy drugs for the first time. This new facility will streamline workflows and help us meet the growing demand for cancer treatment across Far North Queensland, delivering timelier, high-quality care closer to home.”
Ms Singh said the project would not have been possible without the community’s generous support.
“The $1.5 million raised through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation has helped ensure our patients receive care in a space that truly supports their physical and emotional wellbeing,” she said.
Tribute has been paid to key donors including Joyce Swinton, Kenfrost Homes, Mills Family Foundation, Denise and Ellis Richardson, Rotary FNQ Field Days, BDO Arrow Experience, Unit’s Jetski Fundrun, Matthew Calanna, Mitchell Family’s Wheelbarrow Race and hundreds of smaller individual donations.
