10/09/2026
Mackay Base Hospital has achieved a major milestone in patient care, joining only a handful of hospitals in Queensland to be certified as a primary stroke centre.
The hospital is the second regional facility in the state and the sixth hospital in Queensland to be certified under the Australian Stroke Coalition’s (ASC) Stroke Unit Certification Project.
For patients in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) region, this means a better chance at recovery without needing to travel far from home.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) Chief Executive Sean Birgan said evidence showed that receiving treatment in a certified stroke unit greatly reduced the risk of death or disability, so achieving certification was far more than just a badge of honour for the hospital and staff.
“For the Mackay Base Hospital stroke team, the certification is recognition of the dedication and expertise that goes into caring for stroke patients every day, while also providing a foundation to continue strengthening the service into the future,” he said.
“For the average 190 patients who receive treatment at the hospital unit each year, the milestone certification will also ensure they have a greatly reduced risk of death or disability due to stroke.
“So this milestone is not simply about accreditation; it is a reflection of a team committed to providing safe, high-quality stroke care and achieving the best possible outcomes for Mackay region patients and their families.”
The four-year certification as a primary stroke centre, formally recognises the expertise, collaboration and commitment of the multi-disciplinary stroke team in providing evidence-based care to patients. It was achieved through a thorough, peer-reviewed assessment to achieve the certification.
Launched nationally in 2023, the Stroke Unit Certification Program sets rigorous standards to ensure hospitals deliver best-practice, evidence-based stroke care in dedicated units.
The other Queensland hospitals certified as primary stroke centres include Logan Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Toowoomba Hospital, Prince Charles Hospital and Cairns Hospital.
Mackay Base Hospital nurse navigator Helen Nengasha said that for people experiencing a stroke, access to a dedicated stroke unit and timely, specialised treatment can make a life-changing difference.
“The ASC certification recognised Mackay Base Hospital’s comprehensive stroke capability, including a dedicated stroke unit, specialised clinical expertise, evidence-based protocols, thrombolysis, advanced imaging, multidisciplinary care, rehabilitation and ongoing quality improvement,” she said.
“By upskilling our nurses through dedicated stroke education and combining that expertise with a certified unit, we have significantly enhanced the quality of patient care.”
