North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS) came into existence on January 1, 2005 as part of the NSW Department of Health's health reform package titled Planning Better Health. The reforms included a reduction in the number of Area Health Services from 17 across NSW to 8 through a series of Area Health Service mergers and boundary changes.

NCAHS combines the former Northern Rivers (NRAHS) and Mid North Coast (MNCAHS) Area Health Services except for Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester Local Government Areas, which move to the new Hunter/New England Area Health Service

The Area includes the following hospitals/health facilities:

• Ballina, Bellingen, Bonalbo, Byron Bay, Campbell, Casino, Coffs Harbour, Dorrigo, Grafton, Kyogle, Lismore, Nimbin, Maclean, Macleay, Macksville, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah, Port Macquarie (under service agreement), Tweed Heads, Urbenville, Riverlands and Wauchope.

Lismore is the administrative hub of the health service.

Nursing life at North Coast Area Health Service