A $6.3 million health hub has opened on Sixth Avenue in Maroochydore, combining dental and breast screening services under one roof — a development highlighting the strain on communities like Gympie.
The oral health clinic has six dental chairs and could treat up to 12,000 extra patients annually if fully staffed.
By contrast, Gympie residents often face wait times measured in years for dental appointments at the local hospital.
The hub also offers BreastScreen Queensland services, providing free breast cancer screening.
Around 8000 women used the Maroochydore service in 2024, and the new location aims to make it easier for women to attend regular two-yearly screenings.
Gympie also has some excellent breast screening providers, in addition to the Breast Screen Queensland mobile bus service.
Sunshine Coast Health Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies said the Maroochydore facility would improve access to essential services for the Sunshine Coast community.
As part of the Sunshine Coast Hospital District, Gympie patients would be considered part of the Sunshine Coast community despite the 100km distance.
The opening has been heralded by the state Government as good news for the regions.
But for Gympie patients, the distance underscores the ongoing challenge of accessing timely care, particularly dental services, without long waits or long drives, with many lamenting what $6.3M would have done for Gympie public dental services.
