A new specialist haematology service delivered by Sunshine Coast Health will give more Wide Bay residents access to haematology care closer to home, improving the patient experience while strengthening statewide cancer services.
From 28 July 2025, Sunshine Coast Health began accepting and triaging haematology referrals from the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (WBHHS), transitioning care that had previously been provided through Metro North Health’s Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH).
The new model will mean eligible patients from Wide Bay can receive care through Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), significantly reducing travel while maintaining access to high-quality, timely care. Patients who require complex treatments, such as bone marrow transplant or CAR-T therapy, will continue to be managed through RBWH.
Professor Craig Wallington-Gates, Medical Director of Haematology at Sunshine Coast Health, said the change was a positive step forward for patient-centred care in regional Queensland.
“By bringing more haematology services closer to where people live, we’re reducing unnecessary travel, shortening wait times, and helping patients stay better connected with their local care teams,” Professor Wallington-Gates said.
“It also allows our colleagues at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to focus on the most complex cases, while Sunshine Coast Health takes on a greater role in delivering specialist haematology care for the region.”
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Debbie Carroll said the new model was an important step in improving healthcare equity for regional patients.
“Haematology is a highly specialised field, and this partnership ensures that patients can continue to access expert and timely treatment without the burden of unnecessary travel.
“By working in partnership with Sunshine Coast Health and Metro North, we’re ensuring Wide Bay patients receive the same high-quality, specialised haematology care as they would in a major metropolitan centre.”
Patients already on the RBWH waitlist who are eligible for transfer will be contacted individually, and care will only be transitioned with patient consent. The transfer of existing patients will occur in phases, starting with lymphoma and myeloma patients from 1 December 2025, followed by other patient groups through to mid-2026.
Sunshine Coast Health, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, and Metro North Health are working closely to ensure a smooth transition, supported by GPs, referrers, and the Country to Coast QLD Primary Health Network.
“This is about creating a more connected, equitable and efficient haematology service that supports patients and clinicians alike,” Professor Wallington-Gates said.