$88m to boost beds and workforce during one of Qld’s worst flu seasons

• With the flu season weeks away from peaking, the Miles Government is investing $88.6 million to improve capacity at hospitals impacted by the rise in respiratory illnesses
• The money will be spent on more beds, more nursing and triage staff, and expanding hours at Caloundra and Gold Coast University Hospital minor injury and illness clinics.
• Admissions for influenza have already eclipsed Queensland’s 2019 flu season, one of the most severe on record, by around 1,000

The Miles Government will invest more than $88 million to boost beds, services and the workforce in Queensland hospitals to manage a state-wide influx of respiratory illnesses.

Queensland is currently experiencing its highest admissions for influenza seen in more than five years, with Queensland Health anticipating the season to not peak for weeks.

Emergency departments across the state have recorded a surge in presentations for respiratory infections including flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

There were 53,319 presentations to our emergency departments related to respiratory conditions reported in the June quarter – 4,000 more than in the same period last year.  Over half of these presentations resulted in an admission to hospital, an increase of 16.1 per cent.

State-wide, there are currently 346 people hospitalised with influenza A. Of those:

• 28 are children under the age of five
• 137 are between the ages of 5 and 64
• 181 are 65 years old and over.

The inundation of winter virus admissions has had a significant impact on hospital capacity, which had already been affected by the high number of long-stay patients.

This year, to date more than 4,000 people have been admitted to hospital with flu. In 2019, one of Queensland’s worst flu seasons on record, there were around 3,000 hospitalised cases between 31 December 2018 and 13 October 2019.

June 2024 quarterly performance data showed Queensland’s public hospitals were escalated to Tier 3 on 202 occasions, with an average duration of 85 hours, due to caseload and capacity challenges.

To increase capacity and manage patient flow, the Miles Government is investing $88.6 million into initiatives including:

• bringing online 99 new beds in south-east Queensland for long stay patients, including 15 interim care beds and contracted beds in the private sector.
• providing extra resources, including more nurses, to improve ED triaging
• extending the hours of Minor Injury and Illness Clinics on the Gold Coast to run 24/7 and in Caloundra until 10pm.
• Expanding the Hospital in the Home program

Queensland’s seven satellite Hospitals have eased some of the pressure on EDs, exceeding 100,000 presentations since opening and contributing to a 12 per cent reduction in non-urgent presentations at nearby EDs.

Despite a harsh year for respiratory infections, Queensland’s public hospitals still managed to perform a record number of elective surgeries for June quarter, improve wait times in EDs, and facilitate initial specialist outpatient appointments for more than 195,000 people.

Acute respiratory illnesses - 2024 YTD

• 48,003 cases of influenza
• 49,210 cases of COVID-19
• 30,584 cases of RSV

This investment builds on the $1.14 billion Miles Government Putting Patients First plan which involves a range of initiatives to improve hospital patient flow, including reducing the number of long stay patients, providing free vaccinations, and delivering new models of care like virtual hospital.

The Miles Government is also investing $1.7 billion as part of the Queensland Health Workforce Strategy ensure Queensland can retain, train and attract the frontline health workforce needed to continue delivering world-class healthcare over the coming decade.

 Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“I am leading a government that is doing what matters for Queenslanders, which means more hospital beds and more skilled staff in some of the fastest growing parts of the state. 

“Current projections show this year’s flu season will put additional pressure on our already busy health facilities, so bringing more beds online will help meet that demand. 

“This investment will also help divert non-critical patients away from our EDs, with extended hours at the Gold Coast and Caloundra injury and illness clinics, and expanding the successful Hospital in the Home program.” 

 Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:

“With flu season weeks away from peaking, this is an important investment to make sure our hospitals can handle the weekly rise of respiratory presentations and admissions.

“Respiratory illnesses have been severe right across Queensland this year which coupled with our high number of long-stay patients, has placed extreme pressure on our hospitals.

“This investment will allow our long stay patients waiting for federally funded aged care and NDIS beds to be transferred to lower care settings, freeing up beds in the hospitals so that our sickest patients can be seen.

“We plan for intense periods like this every year, but what we are seeing this year is extraordinary demand, which is why we are investing in more beds, and more resources.  

“We are also urging Queenslanders who haven’t been vaccinated against flu, RSV, and COVID-19 to do so.

“Queensland is the only state to make flu vaccine free for everyone – so if you haven’t had your free flu vaccination please get it.

“The number of hospital Tier 3 escalations in the June quarter was similar to previous quarters, but these ones have lasted longer due to the volume of respiratory infections.

“We are also continuing to work with the Commonwealth to transfer long-stay patients out of hospital to appropriate accommodation which will free up more beds.

ENDS