Mackay Base Hospital CEO Susan Gannon launches ‘Let us know if you can’t show’ campaign

A Mackay doctor has warned of potential health risks and system strain after over 20,000 patients missed their appointments last year.

Specialist Dr Robert Anderson. at the Mackay Base Hospital speaking on a new campaign called ‘Let us know if you’re not going to show’. on July 4, 2025

A Mackay doctor has warned of a “tremendous strain” on the hospital’s emergency department after 20,204 patients didn’t show up to their specialist appointments in 2024.

Specialist Dr Bob Anderson said three out of nine patients admitted to his department between 8am and 5pm yesterday, who were categorised as the highest priority, did not show up, putting themselves and other patients at risk.

“These are potentially life-threatening problems that people would show up to the emergency department for if they were obviously bleeding but it could be fixed and investigated much quicker,” he said.

Executive Director Operations MHHS Jenny Farley said hospital no shows out a strain on a system already under pressure. Photo: Luke Lay

“We can’t do anything about the problem if the patient doesn’t show up.

“We rebook. But, it means that someone else could have occupied that slot who also had an urgent medical problem.”

Mackay Executive Directions of Operations Jenny Farley said it cost the hospital on average $200 per missed specialist appointment, equating to over $4m a year.

“It’s a free service so please use it,” she said.

Ms Farley said 2023 research showed people missed appointments for a number of reasons, forgetting the appointment, forgetting to cancel, too busy working or couldn’t get a babysitter in.

Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon announced the campaign on Friday, July 4. Photo: Luke Lay

It sparked their latest campaign ‘Let us know if you’re not going to show’ which Mackay HHS Chief Executive Susan Gannon said was put in place to help the hospitals discharge patients earlier to ease pressure on an already strained system.

“There are a number of strategies that we’ve got across trying to discharge patients early, getting discharged planning organised at an earlier stage, using our transit lounge, working with the age care facilities,” she said.

It comes as wait times for people in ED have risen in the past year with up to 50 per cent of patients under 15 years old with a category three condition not seen in the clinically recommended time.

Construction was still underway for the expansion of the Mackay Base Hospital after an independant report saw major cost blowouts to the project. April 24, 2025. Photo: Luke Lay

Delays are expected for the arrival of 128 new beds for the hospital after the discovery of cultural heritage artefacts and asbestos in the soil blew out the project by more than 12 months into March 2028 with the price of the construction, including a new car park, to cost $520m.

Shadow Treasurer Shannon Fentiman yesterday called for the LNP to provide Queenslanders with a timeline for the arrival of the 128 beds, saying it was missing from the budget.

In response, the Minister for Health Tim Nicholls said his government had committed $18.5bn to their Hospital Rescue Plan.

No timeline or price tag was allocated directly to the hospital in the state budget.

Originally published as Mackay Base Hospital CEO Susan Gannon launches ‘Let us know if you can’t show’ campaign