Sea Breeze Café

From humble beginnings, the Café has always been an integral part of life at Cairns Base Hospital.

Cairns Base Hospital Kiosk Circa 1939

The Sea Breeze Café provides quality food and retail services to the patients, staff and visitors to the hospital in a magical location overlooking the Cairns esplanade. At the same time it generates substantial funds that are donated back into health care services. It has indoor and outdoor dining for up to 60 people and has a view to rival any in Cairns . We are very proud that we have created a comfortable and scenic environment for people to relax whilst visiting or working at Cairns Base Hospital .

The coffee served at the café is just wonderful and the freshly baked muffins are the perfect accompaniment. As well as the great food there is a range of gift items, toys, toiletries, magazines, etc that will make a visit to the hospital more comfortable.

Officially opened in May 2002 as part of the Cairns Base Hospital Redevelopment

Car Park

The car park continues to provide a crucial service to the hospital's staff and visitors. As roadside parking is scarce around the hospital campus, the provision of some 400 undercover parking spaces provides a secure and comfortable environment and meets the large demand. The $4.00 entry fee is a small investment for the security and ease of parking on site at the hospital. The car park has video surveillance and security guard patrols ensuring a safe environment for the vehicles and their drivers. This is especially important for hospital staff after hours.

The car park also accommodates a large number of hospital pool vehicles ensuring quick and easy access for staff. Access to the car park can also be activated through the staff proximity card and paid for through payroll deductions. The Foundation offers free parking to visiting Medical Officers and the Clergy enabling them easy access in emergencies 24 hours per day.

Television

The Foundation manages the integrated multi-access television system throughout the hospital. This offers a rental service that gives patients five free to air channels, five pay-TV channels and an information - educational channel and four radio channels. The system is self-access allowing patients to view the television immediately without the involvement of hospital staff. A Foundation staff member visits each bed daily to check the TV and collect rental payment. The benefits of this service has been acknowledged by everyone involved as it provides patients with some of the comforts of home without being a burden on medical and nursing staff.

Telephone System & Vending Machines

The Foundation installed and manages the Phone Away Bedside System, which has a telephone at every bed in the Cairns Base Hospital enabling patients to receive and make calls from their bedside. The Foundation also coordinates and manages a variety of vending services that include 7 soft drink machines, 5 snack food machines, 2 Health Station vending machines and six phoneaway - phonecard machines. We also manage the Automatic Teller Machine, a very necessary service provided by the Foundation.