April 10, 2026
Heart Health NSW donates ‘Sara Stedy’ aid to Port Macquarie hospital Heart Health NSW’s Dennis Bridgeland, Bill Peck, Reg Wilkinson, Bryan Gough, Kaitlin Largent and Mandy Short experience firsthand the benefits of the Sara Stedy. Photo: supplied.
Health

Heart Health NSW donates ‘Sara Stedy’ aid to Port Macquarie hospital

Heart Health NSW’s Dennis Bridgeland, Bill Peck, Reg Wilkinson, Bryan Gough, Kaitlin Largent and Mandy Short experience firsthand the benefits of the Sara Stedy. Photo: supplied. Heart Health NSW members with Mandy Short and the plaque honouring Doug Short. Photo: supplied. PORT Macquarie Base Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit has strengthened its patient care capabilities following […]

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Creative therapy pilot launches on North Coast Registered Art Therapist Tania Miller from ReCreate Art Therapy.
Health

Creative therapy pilot launches on North Coast

PEOPLE across the North Coast experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges now have access to new free creative therapy services, thanks to the launch of the North Coast Creative Therapies Pilot. Launched by Healthy North Coast and funded by the Australian Government through the Primary Health Network program at a value of $1.03 million, […]

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New figures show record demand for Mid North Coast Hospital Emergency Departments This is the first time Wauchope Hospital has been included in the BHI’s quarterly report. Photo: MNCLHD.
Health

New figures show record demand for Mid North Coast Hospital Emergency Departments

MID North Coast hospitals have experienced record demand for their emergency departments, according to the latest Bureau of Health Information (BHI) quarterly report. Despite this, hospital performance between October and December remained high. Across the health district, which covers Port Macquarie to Coffs Harbour, there were a record 40,126 attendances, an increase of three percent […]

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Dunbogan’s Bruce de Graaf cracks 700 blood donations
Community, Health

Dunbogan’s Bruce de Graaf cracks 700 blood donations

Bruce de Graaf making his 700th donation. Bruce de Graaf and Port Macquarie MP Rob Dwyer. DUNBOGAN’S Bruce de Graaf celebrated his 700th donation at Lifeblood Port Macquarie on Friday, 20 February. He now holds the record for the most blood/plasma donations in the Port Macquarie region and is one of the top ten donors […]

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Cancer Trust seeking support for gala event Wauchope Palliative Care Nursing Unit Manager Mary Trotter with a hydraulic assist layback commode shower chair purchased with a grant from Hastings Cancer Trust.
Community, Health

Cancer Trust seeking support for gala event

THE Port Macquarie-Hastings community is being urged to support the work of the Hastings Cancer Trust (HCT) in 2026. Cancer Council Australia estimates that in 2024 169,500 people were diagnosed with cancer, 52,700 died of cancer and that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, making it a […]

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NSW Health offering subsidies to future health workers Medical student Aimee Long is one of the 7,900 students who have benefitted from the program since 2024. Photo: NSW Health.
Health

NSW Health offering subsidies to future health workers

UP TO $12,000 in financial support is on offer for students enrolled in medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, Aboriginal health and allied health degrees across NSW. The new round of applications for the Tertiary Health Study Subsidies Program opened on 28 January. This year, support will be available for up to 4,000 students across the state. […]

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Advanced survey technology begins on $265 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital upgrade
Government, Health

Advanced survey technology begins on $265 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital upgrade

SPECIALIST survey works are now underway inside Port Macquarie Base Hospital and around its grounds, as the early planning stage of its $265m upgrade gets underway. These works involve the use of advanced, body-worn scanning camera technology to capture highly accurate measurements of existing hospital buildings, both internally and externally. A Health Infrastructure spokesperson said […]

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Port Macquarie duo ‘The 2 Mums’ nominated for 2026 Spirit of Community Awards The 2 Mums, Julie Bowes and Sherrill Weidenbohm at Town Green. Photo: @The2Mums.
Community, Health

Port Macquarie duo ‘The 2 Mums’ nominated for 2026 Spirit of Community Awards

CHRONIC and terminal illnesses come at very high emotional, physical, and financial cost to individuals and their loved ones, but locals Sherill Weidenbohm and Julie Bowes are doing their best to alleviate that burden on the Mid North Coast. Known as “The 2 Mums”, they have spent the past seven years as a constant and […]

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Extreme weather increasing health risks in rural and remote Australia ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin. Photo: @ACRRM4ruralhealth
Community, Health

Extreme weather increasing health risks in rural and remote Australia

THE Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) says extreme weather across Australia is increasing health risks for rural, remote and First Nations communities and placing growing pressure on local health services. ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says prolonged and severe weather events are affecting the health of rural communities and will continue to […]

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Staff praised as Mid North Coast hospitals deliver strong results in quarterly report The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
Government, Health

Staff praised as Mid North Coast hospitals deliver strong results in quarterly report

PUBLIC hospitals across the Mid North Coast are providing high-quality care despite high demand in emergency departments, according to the latest Bureau of Health Information statistics. The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025. Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) Chief Executive Jill Wong praised staff for their commitment […]

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