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Healthcare Sunshine Coast: Hospitals & GPs Guide
Find hospitals, GPs, and specialists on the Sunshine Coast. Navigate SCUH, Nambour Hospital, and local health services with this complete guide.
How we reported this
The Sunshine Coast's healthcare system was transformed by the opening of Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) in 2017, which replaced the region's long-standing reliance on under-resourced Nambour Hospital and the consequent Brisbane referral dependency for specialist care. SCUH has elevated the Sunshine Coast's healthcare to a level commensurate with its population of 400,000+.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the SCUH at Birtinya (between Kawana and Caloundra) is the Sunshine Coast's flagship public hospital, opened in 2017 and providing emergency, surgical, trauma, oncology, cardiac, and specialist medical care with a modern facility that was purpose-designed for the region's growing population. The hospital is a teaching and research hospital affiliated with Griffith University and provides resident training programmes that support the region's future medical workforce. The emergency department operates 24/7.
Nambour General Hospital, the historic Nambour General Hospital continues to operate as part of the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service network, providing general medical and surgical services that complement the SCUH's tertiary capabilities.
Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim provides private health insurance patient services for elective surgery, specialist consulting, and private admission. The Noosa Private Hospital provides additional private capacity in the northern Sunshine Coast.
Specialist availability, the SCUH has expanded Sunshine Coast specialist availability significantly, with most common specialty fields (cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology) now available within the region. Very complex sub-specialty cases are referred to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra or Royal Brisbane Hospital.
GP access, the Sunshine Coast PHN coordinates primary health across the region. GP availability is generally good along the coastal strip; the Hinterland communities can have longer waits for new patient appointments.
This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.