A new life-saving procedure to open blocked calcified arteries has been performed in Mackay for the first time at the Base Hospital. Director of Cardiology Dr Michael Zhang said the rotablation involved using a tiny diamond tipped burr to drill into the calcium of the blocked artery to restore the blood flow in the heart…. [Read More]

The first time Jay Blackford walked into the Anxiety Management Group he kept his head down. Worried others would judge him, Jay sat silently by himself for the first meeting. Despite his mind going into overdrive Jay made it along to the next meeting and from there he showed up to every session. For some,… [Read More]

Annerie Tomkinson’s decision to pursue a career in social work was motivated by an early desire to advocate for the wellbeing of people through social and emotional support. Growing up in South Africa, Annerie saw the barriers preventing people from achieving quality of life and wanted to help those who were suffering. “On a daily… [Read More]

Mackay Hospital and Health Service will deliver the first COVID-19 vaccinations today (15 March) to frontline healthcare workers. COVAX lead and Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Julie Rampton said today was a momentous occasion for the community. Thousands of workers will receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming weeks. “The… [Read More]

The devastating reality of COVID-19 has hit close to home for Mackay Hospital and Health Service Registered Nurse Sonia Davids. Not only did she experience three months of lockdown in South Africa in 2020 at the start of the pandemic she has since lost four family members and friends to the disease. As the newly… [Read More]