Maclean Medical has solidified its reputation as one of the most forward-thinking healthcare providers in the region, earning major recognition at the 2025 Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards hosted by Business NSW
The Maclean-based clinic won the prestigious Excellence in Innovation award, recognising its forward-thinking approach to regional healthcare delivery, including the success of its Access Health Clinic. The nurse-practitioner-led walk-in model, combined with rapid access to essential services like skin checks, weight loss clinic, and women’s health, has not only improved patient outcomes but also reshaped what healthcare access can look like in a rural setting.
In addition to the win for innovation, Maclean Medical also received Highly Commended in the Excellence in Small Business category, highlighting its strong growth, leadership, and impact in the local economy.
This recognition follows the clinic's incredible sweep at the Clarence Valley Business Awards in July, where it was named Business of the Year and also took out top honours in Excellence in Small Business and Excellence in Innovation.
But for founder and clinic director Haley Hodgson, this is about more than trophies - it's about rewriting the story of what’s possible in regional healthcare.
"Three years ago I was told I couldn’t own a medical centre as a registered nurse," she said during her acceptance speech in Ballina. "Three years on, I decided to change those odds. Not only do I own a medical centre, but I also run an Access Health Clinic."
In just eight months, the Access Health Clinic has grown into a vital service for the Clarence Valley community, seeing over 300 walk-in patients every week. It has provided an urgent-care alternative to long GP waitlists and overloaded emergency departments - a problem plaguing communities across the Northern Rivers.
"I decided the shortage of GPs wasn’t good enough - not for my family, not for your family, and not for our community. It’s not good enough for anyone living in the Northern Rivers," Haley told the audience. "I hope to open Access Clinics in all our towns in the near future, run by nurse practitioners."
She continued, "When you wake up in the morning and your child is sick - or you’re sick - and you need to see someone that day, why should you have to wait six hours in an ED waiting room? We deserve better."
At the Access Health Clinic, patients don’t see a GP - they see a Nurse Practitioner. And that’s exactly the point. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are Master’s-trained clinicians who can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medications, order and interpret pathology and imaging, refer to specialists, manage chronic disease, and provide expert, compassionate care.
There’s no need for an appointment, no long waits, and no requirement to be an existing patient. The average wait time is just three minutes. It’s a bold shift away from outdated expectations of care - and it’s working.
Maclean Medical is using this model to educate the community about what modern, nurse-led primary care really looks like. The Access Health Clinic is locally led, expertly run, and powered by Nurse Practitioners. It’s open to all - with walk-ins welcome and no need to be a Maclean Medical patient. Standard appointments are just $50, with an approximate $30 Medicare rebate, leaving an out-of-pocket cost of only $20.
Meanwhile, Maclean Medical’s main clinic continues to grow its general practice services, with four GP doctors and a highly skilled nursing team offering a range of care including general health screenings, antenatal care, spirometry, skin checks, wound care, cervical screening, chronic disease management, heart health checks, vaccinations, and ear syringing.
At Maclean Medical, the focus is always on delivering quality healthcare with a holistic approach. The clinic’s philosophy centres on providing high-quality, patient-centred care that supports the health and wellbeing of the whole community.
Now, Maclean Medical is preparing to represent the Clarence Valley and the community of Maclean - on the state stage. The team will travel to Sydney in late October to compete in the NSW State Business Awards, joining the best of the best from across New South Wales.
With a new purpose-built medical centre currently under construction and due for completion in early 2026, the future is bright for Maclean Medical. The new facility will bring both Maclean Medical and the Access Health Clinic under one roof for the first time, creating a fully integrated hub of care for the community. The centre will include over 20 consultation rooms, significantly expanding capacity for local patients. In addition, plans are already underway to open a new Access Health Clinic in Grafton - another step in Haley Hodgson’s broader vision to bring same-day, community-focused care to more towns across the Northern Rivers.
As the Clarence Valley continues to grow, and as pressure on rural health services escalates across Australia, Maclean Medical stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when leadership, community values, and determination come together.
And with Haley Hodgson at the helm, it’s clear the best is yet to come.
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