General News
11 August, 2026
$5.6m boost to cancer care
THE $5.6 million Cancer Care Hub has opened at Cairns Hospital, with the help of more than $1.5 million in community fundraising via the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
The hub includes:
A new outdoor balcony on level 2, D block, offering patients, families and friends a relaxing space with one of the best hospital views in Australia
A significantly expanded pharmacy enabling local manufacture of chemotherapy drugs
A refurbished day oncology treatment space in the Liz Plummer Cancer Care Centre
A larger, modern meeting room with upgraded teleconferencing technology to better support rural and remote patients
Increased patient interview rooms to enable more private health conferences.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the hub represented a transformative step forward for cancer care in the region.
“This project is about creating a space that fosters healing, comfort and connection for patients and their loved ones during some of the most challenging times of their lives,” she said.
“Our new balcony space provides a calming environment with stunning views of the Cairns Esplanade and Coral Sea, supporting emotional wellbeing alongside the excellent medical care we deliver.”
Ms Singh said the refurbished day oncology space increased capacity with additional treatment chairs, bringing the total to 20. “This means we can treat more patients each day and improve access to lifesaving care,” she said.
“Our new expanded pharmacy inside the cancer care centre will allow local production of chemotherapy drugs for the first time.
“This new facility will streamline workflows and help us meet the growing demand for cancer treatment across Far North Queensland, delivering timelier, high-quality care closer to home.” Ms Singh said the project would not have been possible without the community’s generous support.
Foundation CEO Gina Hogan said the project was a powerful example of what could be achieved when the community came together to support local healthcare.
“This cancer care hub exists because our community stepped up,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to the donors, event participants and supporters who made this possible,” she said.
