Dr Samantha Grey
Hospitals, maternity services and dentistry: three medical histories of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Samantha Grey is a medical historian and sessional academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Dr Samantha Grey’s report explores three important parts of the Sunshine Coast’s health history: maternity care, hospitals and dentistry. Drawing on hospital records, Council archives and historic newspapers, it reveals how local communities accessed healthcare and how services changed over time.
The report examines maternity care at Eumundi’s Sunny Brae Hospital between 1937 and 1956, showing how hospital records can help tell the stories of mothers, babies and changing medical practices. It also traces the long campaign to establish and improve Caloundra Hospital, highlighting the role of community advocacy in securing better health services for the region. Finally, it explores early dental care on the Sunshine Coast, when travelling dentists regularly visited towns such as Nambour, Eumundi and Woombye, reflecting the region’s early reliance on services from Brisbane. Together, these stories provide a fascinating insight into the people, challenges and developments that shaped healthcare on the Sunshine Coast.
Read the outcomes of Hospitals, maternity services and dentistry: three medical histories of the Sunshine Coast
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