The Friendly Society Private Hospital reported a year of significant progress, major reinvestment in patient care and strong financial stability at its Annual General Meeting today.

Board Chair Barry Dangerfield confirmed the Friendlies was “a stronger, more modern and more resilient hospital than it was 12 months ago”.

Despite a difficult operating environment for regional private hospitals, the Friendlies achieved a $2.6 million surplus in 2024–2025, enabling additional clinical and infrastructure upgrades.

Mr Dangerfield said the results demonstrated the hospital’s continued commitment to serving Bundaberg and the Wide Bay region.

“This year was about strengthening our foundations and investing where it matters most – in patient care, in safety, and in our people,” Mr Dangerfield said.

“Every dollar we earn is reinvested back into Bundaberg. That’s the strength of being a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital.”

The hospital undertook its largest clinical equipment and safety upgrade program in more than a decade, including:

• $2.2 million Philips Azurion image-guided therapy system for the cardiac cath lab
• $1.45 million upgrade of the Central Sterile Services Department, meeting AS 5369
• $500,000 in perioperative equipment including a Jackson spinal table, new colonoscopes and gastroscopes, and a urology laser
• $500,000 chiller upgrade supporting infection-controlled theatre temperatures

Mr Dangerfield said these investments were essential to delivering contemporary care and meeting the expectations of patients and their treating doctors and surgeons.

“Bundaberg deserves access to safe, modern care close to home. These investments are not optional, they are the commitment we make to this community.”

Across 2024–2025, the Friendlies achieved full accreditation across every routine independent external review, including:

• ACHS accreditation (May – September 2025)
• PHRU accreditation (March 2025)
• QCPP accreditation (April 2025)
• OHO Section 12 review (August 2024)

“You cannot buy external endorsement. You earn it,” Mr Dangerfield said. “Four separate accreditors examined our governance, clinical systems and culture and each confirmed we are delivering safe, high-quality care.”

The hospital strengthened its financial and operational capability by implementing PowerHealth clinical costing, enabling detailed casemix, revenue and length-of-stay analysis. This positions the Friendlies ahead of anticipated national funding reform, including the move toward a Private National Efficient Price.

“The healthcare landscape is shifting,” Mr Dangerfield said. “We are preparing early so we can protect local access to private hospital care for the long term.”

The Friendlies also progressed major workforce and leadership improvements, including successful EBA negotiations, the appointment of Medical Advisor Dr Wal Grimmett, and the recruitment of two senior clinical pharmacists.

Through a Queensland Health service agreement, the hospital treated a significant volume of public subacute patients and achieved 98% patient satisfaction, helping reduce pressure on WBHHS and improve patient flow across the region.

While the contract has since been awarded to another provider, the Friendlies has been invited by Queensland Health to participate in Surgery Connect, supporting public surgical capacity in the Wide Bay region.

Mr Dangerfield closed his report by acknowledging the hospital’s staff, who continued to deliver safe and compassionate care despite a year of heightened external scrutiny.

“Our staff have shown professionalism, compassion and resilience under extremely challenging circumstances,” he said. “They are the heart of this hospital, and their commitment is the reason the Friendlies continues to serve this community with excellence.”