Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service

We're celebrating World Social Work Day today, with a sit down chat with Rockhampton Hospital Senior Social Worker Sarah. 💙   Our Social Workers work in multidisciplinary teams to support our patients and their families to deal with the emotional and practical issues that can come with being ill. They do an incredible job to support our community, and we're all better off because of social workers like Sarah. ⭐👏   Sarah's one piece of health advice?   Make sure you have an 'enduring power of attorney'.    This allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you, if you lose capacity to make decisions yourself. Complete a form on the Queensland Government publications website to get started.   #WorldSocialWorkDay #SocialWorkers #CentralQueensland #RockhamptonHospital #SocialWork

Introducing some attendees from our recent Leadership Summit in Yeppoon! Let's hear what they took away from the day... 📷💙 Our Leadership Summits are a chance for leaders across our health service to connect, reflect and recharge so they can continue to provide great care for Central Queenslanders. We’re proud to invest in leadership development for all Central Queensland Health team members. We know that when our people thrive, so does the care we provide. #Leadership #TeamProfiles #HealthCare

🌾 Ever thought about a career in rural healthcare? We sat down with Senior Speech Pathologist Rach and Senior Dietitian Jess about why they love making a real difference in the bush! 💙🏥 #RuralHealthcare #HealthHeroes #CentralQueensland

Today is World Kidney Day – and we have great news for Gladstone Hospital’s Satellite Dialysis Unit! 🎉🩺 The unit has moved into a larger space and has increased its haemodialysis treatment chairs from four to six. This means all Gladstone dialysis patients can now receive treatment during day shifts (6:30am or 2pm) instead of staying as late as 11pm to access their life-saving care. As a bonus, long-time Renal Unit supporter Pat donated a wheelchair, bringing smiles to patient Leasha (seated) and nurses Kristy and Kylie. Pat is part of the Gladstone Kidney Support Network, which raises funds and provides kidney health education. The 2025 World Kidney Day theme: “Are your kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health.” #GladstoneHospital #HealthCare #WorldKidneyDay

Welcome to the team! ✈💙 Rockhampton Hospital’s Cardiology team has some fresh faces! 🩺👋 Dr Emily Chean (left) is our new Principal House Officer, eager to pursue cardiology training with Queensland Health. She’s enjoying the close-knit team and looking forward to exploring Great Keppel Island. Dr Zahra Alizadeh Sani (right) joins us as a Staff Specialist Cardiologist, bringing expertise in cardiac MRI and imaging. Originally from Iran, she’s loving the warm Rockhampton weather and hopes to re-learn the sitar in her spare time. Please join us in welcoming Dr Chean and Dr Sani to our team and to Central Queensland! 👏💙 #CQHealth #Cardiology #HealthCare

Over 100 current and aspiring leaders joined us last week in Yeppoon for the first of three Central Queensland Health Leadership Summits in 2025. Providing exceptional healthcare takes around the clock commitment, but we know our people benefit from time off the ward and out of the office to stay connected and share ideas on creating a great place to work. Our fantastic line up of guest speakers, including Simon Fleming, Jillann Farmer, Julie Castle and Melissa Carter, gave our team a range of tools to drive positive workplace culture. Culture that not only adapts to change, but embraces it. We're proud to offer regular leadership development opportunities to all Central Queensland Health team members. The end goal? Help our people do their best work. #leadership #development #healthcare

When Dr Ruth Varrall (left) joined Rockhampton Hospital in 2018 as an orthopaedic surgeon, she noticed there was an opportunity for better networking among female doctors. Together with Dr Preeti Patil in obstetrics and gynaecology and Dr Annette Turley in anaesthetics, she started the Women in Medicine Society that same year. "Over the last six years we've grown our network to over 170 ladies, from medical students and interns through to Senior Medical Officers and even General Practitioners and other specialists in the community," says Dr Ruth. "We run a range of events throughout the year. It's a mix of socialising, fun activities and education on topics like finance and professional development, to help female doctors keep on top of their game at all stages of their career." The Society helped Infectious Diseases Physician Dr Jemma Taylor (right) settle into life in Central Queensland. She had been working as a visiting locum from Melbourne since 2023 and met Dr Varrall through the diabetic foot clinic at Rockhampton Hospital. At the start of this year Dr Jemma made her move to Central Queensland permanent. "I just loved the local area and working for the health service more than I expected. The Society had a big part in that," she says. "Everyone involved with the network has the goal of helping women in medicine succeed in the Central Queensland region, whether they are new to the profession, new to the region, or even new the Australian medical system." In 2025 the Society has begun working more closely with international medical graduates to support their transition, and is also looking at a similar group for the Gladstone region. The Women in Medicine Society is keen to support female medical professionals across Central Queensland, not just Rockhampton. Get in touch at wim@health.qld.gov.au or search 'Women in Medicine Rockhampton' on Facebook to get involved. #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #QWW25 #MarchForward

Flat to the boards focusing on ourselves as leaders in health care here in CQ. We need to step out and into our own professional development and conversations. No better way to pull together at the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Leadership Summit 2025. 👏🏽 Simon Fleming we appreciate your reality check and focus on the “coffee conversation” whilst being our CQH own. 🧳 Jillann Farmer showcasing the data which tells the story and need for curiosity disruption and change. A local now returned to the frontline. ⭐️ Melissa Carter a super strength in the health arena sharing the impact of poor culture on our system and the need for kindness as we grow and learn as a leader. All pulled together with spunk by Julie Castle 💃🏻 who took us on an amazing journey as we calmly and professionally step into 2025. #leadershipsummit #culture #disrupt

Exciting news for the Capricorn Coast community! The new satellite renal dialysis unit at Capricorn Coast Hospital is now complete. It will soon provide residents like Patsy Roberts with much-needed access to life-saving treatments closer to home. 🏥💙 For more than 15 years, Patsy and many other residents have been traveling to Rockhampton three times a week for dialysis, often making long journeys for treatment. Now, this new state-of-the-art facility, with eight dialysis chairs, will reduce the travel burden and improve the quality of life for these patients. The opening of this facility is part of Central Queensland Health’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services in the region, including improving access to renal care for those with chronic kidney conditions. It will also help alleviate pressure on Rockhampton Hospital’s renal services, ensuring the growing demand for dialysis is met with ease. Thanks to Paynters, and Health Infrastructure Queensland for help delivering this important project. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community! 👏 #Yeppoon #CapricornCoast #RenalDialysis #CentralQueenslandHealth

Happy Queensland Women's Week! 💜🤍 We joined Rockhampton Clinical Director Doctor Ruth for a cuppa to learn more about the world of orthopaedics, and how a little safety can go a long way. #Rockhampton #CentralQueensland #Orthopaedics #IWD2025 #QWW25