Ambulance ramping dips to six-year low as new Aeromedical Precinct starts to take off

Statewide ambulance ramping has dropped to its lowest level since the COVID era – at 35.5 per cent - as the Crisafulli Government continues to heal Labor’s Health Crisis.
The elective surgery waitlist also remains stable and lower than the peak of 66,632 after Labor’s decade of decline.
The new data comes as the Crisafulli Government reveals construction on the $430 million Aeromedical Precinct has reached an exciting new milestone.
Under the former Labor government, the precinct was at risk of failing to launch due to a lack of planning and consultation.
The Crisafulli Government has reduced ramping, stabilised the elective surgery waitlist, and is delivering critical health infrastructure, including three new hospitals and 10 expansions through its fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan.

Ambulance ramping has fallen to its lowest quarterly rate since 2020, as the Crisafulli Government continues to heal Labor’s Health Crisis.

New Queensland Health data shows ramping across the State dropped to 35.5 per cent in the June quarter - the lowest since December 2020 - when the revolving door of failed Labor health ministers saw Steven Miles replaced by Yvette D'Ath.

Both the Gold Coast University (20.1 per cent) and Robina Hospitals (11.6 per cent) recorded their lowest quarterly ramping rates in more than a decade, achieving the best results since before Labor was elected in 2015.

Other major hospitals also showing their biggest improvements in quarterly ramping since the COVID era, included:

Gympie, 21.6 per cent – Lowest since June 2020;
Nambour, 23.9 per cent – Lowest since June 2020;
Queensland Children’s Hospital, 13.9 per cent – Lowest since December 2020;
Redcliffe Hospital, 28.9 per cent – Lowest since June 2020;
Rockhampton Hospital, 32.3 per cent – Lowest since June 2020;
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, 40.9 per cent – Lowest since September 2020

During the former Labor Government's decade of decline - which created Queensland's Health Crisis – ambulance ramping skyrocketed to a record high of 45.5 per cent, while the elective surgery waitlist blew out to a high of 66,632.

The Crisafulli Government's fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan is delivering more beds and new and expanded hospitals to further reduce ambulance ramping, after Labor's failed Capacity Expansion Program ballooned by billions of dollars under the chaos and crisis of the former Government.

The Easier Access to Health Services plan has also seen the elective surgery waitlist stabilised, with Queensland Health statewide data from June showing a slight reduction to 58,912.

The new figures come as another major health infrastructure project reaches a pivotal milestone, with construction of the Crisafulli Government’s $430 million Aeromedical Precinct at Brisbane Airport officially at the halfway point.

The precinct is a key part of the Government’s commitment to deliver easier access to health services for all Queenslanders, no matter where they live, with the hub to be home to emergency services flying in sick and injured patients from across the state.

Retrieval Services Queensland, QGAir, LifeFlight and the Royal Flying Doctors Service will all be based in the 18,700m2 purpose-built facility, which is being constructed in partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation.

Already, more than 700 tonnes of steel, 2,500 piles and 300 tilt panels have been used since the Crisafulli Government kicked off construction in 2025, more than three years after it was originally announced - and then allowed to stall - by the former Labor Government.

Under the former Labor Government, the cost of the project had also blown out in excess of 600 per cent - from $60.2 million to $430 million - and a 20-year lease had been locked in without either Queensland Health or the Queensland Police Service being consulted on their operation requirements.

This led to catastrophic failures like four of the five planned hangars unable to safely accommodate an aircraft and the QGAir holding cell floor topping being too thin and a risk of being broken off and used as a weapon.

The shocking revelations about this project were similar to those made in an independent review of Labor’s failed Capacity Expansion Program, which found not one of their hospital projects could be delivered within its original timeline or budget.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government was delivering the fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan to further reduce ambulance ramping, stabilise the elective surgery waitlist, and heal Labor's Health Crisis.

"The statewide ambulance ramping level at its lowest in six years show our plan to diagnose, treat and health Labor's Health Crisis is delivering positive early results but we know there is more work to be done," Minister Nicholls said.

"Our fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan is strengthening the health system now and for the future, so Queenslanders can access the care they need, when they need it.

"The Aeromedical Hub was at risk of becoming part of Labor’s shameful history of delivering headlines without substance, with rushed planning and little consultation.

“Just like we’re healing Labor’s Health Crisis, we’ve saved this valuable project and got it back on track to ensure regional Queenslanders continue to have access to our vital emergency aeromedical services.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said Labor had announced the project but failed to listen to the frontline services who operate these lifesaving aircraft every day.

“As a result, Queensland Police were left with a facility that didn’t adequately support operational requirements and had significant design issues," Minister Purdie said.

“We’ve listened and we’ve taken action to ensure this facility is built properly and responsibly so our lifesaving air services have a new home that will accommodate them well into the future.”

ENDS

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