A Gympie nurse practitioner is among four new members appointed to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Board, helping ensure frontline clinical expertise is at the centre of local healthcare decision-making.
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (HHS) clinician John Degan is a nurse practitioner with 30 years of experience in nursing and strong ties to the local community.
“Mr Degan’s extensive frontline experience and local knowledge will be a valuable addition to the Board and help strengthen connections between clinical care and strategic decision-making,” Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies said.
The newly appointed nine-person Board, announced today, brings together experience across medicine, finance and leadership to help shape the future of healthcare on the Sunshine Coast.
The Board will be led by reappointed Chair Dr David Rowlands OAM.
“Dr Rowlands’ extensive clinical experience across more than 40 years in medicine as a general practitioner will continue to make a positive impact in the Sunshine Coast region,” Dr Gillies said.
Mr Degan is joined by new board members Deputy Chair Chris Ward, Christina (Tina) Wyer and Matthew Byrne.
The remaining board members are either continuing or have been reappointed.
The Sunshine Coast HHS joins all other Queensland Hospital and Health Services in welcoming a local frontline practitioner to its Board.
Changes to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, announced last year, require all 16 of Queensland’s Hospital and Health Service Boards to include at least one AHPRA-registered health practitioner currently working for its local HHS.
These changes come into effect for the first time on 1 April 2026.
The Board is responsible for the performance of its HHS and the delivery of local public health services under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.
For more information, visit: Board | Sunshine Coast Health