Ramping action plan delivers results, bigger health build announced

• Queensland EDs also saw a 1.6 percentage point improvement in Patient Off-Stretcher Time when compared to the June quarter.
• This performance comes despite over 403,500 emergency department presentations in just two months, 13,500 more than the same time last year.
• Average lost time per ambulance reduced by four minutes, compared to the same time last year.
• David Crisafulli and the LNP still have no plan for Queensland’s health system
• Labor announces even bigger expansions for 6 hospitals

Queensland Health performance data published today shows that the Miles Labor Government’s investments are working, despite rising emergency department presentations.

In the first two months of this financial year, lost minutes per ambulance improved by four minutes compared to the same time last year – meaning more paramedics were back on the road caring for patients, sooner.

In addition, around 3,000 additional patients were transferred off-stretcher within 30 minutes, which helped propel a 1.6 percentage point improvement in patient off-stretcher times to 56.9 per cent, when compared to the June 2024 quarter.

This performance comes in light of 403,561 ED presentations across July and August – over 13,500 more, or a 3.5 per cent increase, compared to the same time last year.

Total emergency department presentations included a 9.2 per cent increase in critically ill patients (categories 1 and 2) and almost 39,000 people with respiratory illnesses, representing a 16.7 per cent increase compared to the same time last year and reflecting the severity of Queensland’s flu season, which peaked in late August.

Emergency departments also managed to keep median wait times for care stable at 15 minutes, four minutes faster than when the LNP were last in Government.

Labor will ensure continued improvement by expanding planned expansions to six hospitals.

An additional over $1.3 billion will be invested across the six projects, which will be funded from within the existing program allocation.

Contracts totalling over $3.5 billion will be awarded today to get construction underway.

Projects increasing in scope include: 

• The $1.066 billion Ipswich Hospital Stage 2 Expansion will increase capacity at the hospital through an additional 200 beds, six additional operating theatres, a new Emergency Department, satellite medical imaging service, a new central sterilisation service department and expansions to existing cardiac services, pharmacy, mortuary, kitchen and back of house services.
• The $874.7 million Logan Hospital Stage 2 Expansion will increase capacity at the hospital through an additional 112 beds, ten additional operating theatres, six endoscopy rooms, chemotherapy/ day therapy spaces, 3 catheterisation laboratories, central sterilisation service department, pharmacy and administration.
• The $748.1 million Princess Alexandra Hospital Expansion will increase capacity at the hospital through an additional 249 beds, expansions of the cardiac catheterisation laboratories, medical imaging, pharmacy, kitchen and administration.
• The $619.5 million QEII Hospital Expansion will increase capacity at the hospital through an additional 112 beds and expansions to the outpatient services, medical imaging, medical records and maintenance areas.
• The $171 Cairns Hospital Expansion (Tranche 1) will increase capacity at the hospital through an additional 64 beds and refurbishment across a number of floors at the Hospital. A separate tender will be released to seek a builder to deliver Tranche 2 of the expansion including the surgical centre which will include 4 operating theatres and 32 additional beds and a new central sterilisation service department.
• The $94 million Hervey Bay Expansion will deliver 35 additional beds, boosting inpatient capacity and Intensive Care beds, and also a new rooftop helipad.

The final designs benefitted from the funding boost provided in the 2024-25 State budget, allowing for increased scope that will optimise patient flow, reduce wait times and improving overall healthcare delivery through the expansion of support services.

The revised costs also account for cost escalations and factor in the complexity of delivering significant infrastructure expansions in live clinical environments.

The remainder of the Capacity Expansion Program projects are progressing through the design phase. 

Additionally, construction is also set to commence on multi-storey carparks at Ipswich and Logan, as part of the new $1.38 billion Hospital Car Parking Program to complement the expansions progressing at these sites.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“Queensland is growing, so our hospitals need to grow too.

“Data today shows that our investments are working, despite rising emergency department presentations.

“My government has the biggest health and hospital build in this state’s history underway right now to bring thousands of beds online – beds that sick and injured Queenslanders need.

“And that build just got bigger. 

“This $1.3 billion injection into these projects will deliver extra operating theatres, pharmacy facilities, medical imaging suites, expanded outpatient service areas and more.

“Only I have a real plan to improve the health outcomes of Queenslanders, no matter where they live.

“I will always back our hardworking doctors, nurses and health care professionals, and my government will build the world-class facilities they deserve.”

Quote attributable to Health Minister Shannon Fentiman:

“New data released just today shows us that in the first two months of this financial year, more than 400,000 people presented to Queensland emergency departments. 

“The data shows that we are doing what matters for Queenslanders, and our public health system is tracking in the right direction.

“Despite surging demand, a horror flu season and more people needing emergency care than ever before, our hospitals are on track to deliver another strong quarter of results.

“More patients are being seen sooner, and our paramedics are returning to the road faster.

“These results would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our doctors and nurses or the vital investment in our health system to equip the frontline with the support it needs.

“Ensuring our hospitals are ready to serve their local communities now, and into the future is a priority for the Miles Government.

“That’s why we have invested over $14 billion in the Queensland Health Big build, to cater for this growth.

“These projects also mean our hardworking frontline nurses and doctors will be equipped with the support and resources they need to deliver world-class healthcare and improve the flow of patients through hospitals.

“It’s thanks to our progressive coal royalties tax that we are able to continue to invest in the services that matter most to Queenslanders.

“The LNP will not deliver a single new hospital bed for Queensland.

“And if their track record of savagely sacking 4,400 health workers is anything to go by, Queenslanders cannot trust a thing they say.

‘Only Labor is doing what matters to build the facilities needed to ensure Queenslander’s can access worldclass healthcare close to home.

“Meanwhile, David Crisafulli, Ros Bates, and the LNP refuse to be upfront with Queenslanders about their plan for our health system. Last time they were in Government, they sacked 4,400 health workers and slashed $1.6 billion from the health budget.”

ENDS