Massive $9.78 billion investment in new hospitals and new beds in record health budget

Queensland hospitals will undergo the biggest expansion program ever seen in a State Budget focused squarely on health.

The Palaszczuk Government has delivered the largest investment in new hospitals and new beds in Queensland’s history, with the 2022-23 State Budget providing additional funding of $9.78 billion over six years.

The new hospitals and hospital expansion projects announced in the State Budget will deliver 2509 extra beds across Queensland over the next six years.

This is in addition to the 869 beds being delivered through current expansion projects and builds on the 1350 additional beds the Palaszczuk Government has opened across the state since 2015.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Budget showed the government is acting to address a bottleneck being experienced in every state in Australia.

“Every health minister in the country has highlighted this problem,” the Premier said.

“There are hundreds of people in hospital beds who should be in aged or disability care.

“Add to that the hundreds more with COVID and the health workers who have COVID themselves and the problem is plain.

“No matter the cause of the problem, we are acting on a solution.

“That’s what good governments do.”

The 2022-23 Queensland Budget provides:

• A record $23.6 billion health and ambulance services budget
• Queensland Health’s operating budget grows $1.16 billion, or 5.6 per cent more than last year
• $9.78 billion additional funding over six years for the Capacity Expansion Program, which will build three new hospitals, a new Queensland Cancer Centre and 11 hospital expansion projects across Queensland and deliver around 2220 additional beds from 2024 to 2028
• $229.7 million funding over two years allocated for the Accelerated Infrastructure Delivery Program, which will deliver around 289 additional beds from 2023 to 2024 across seven projects in West Moreton, Gold Coast, Metro South and Cairns
• $943.5 million funding over seven years provided to replace rural and remote health facilities and staff accommodation under Phase 2 of the Building Rural and Remote Health Program, with the first tranche of Phase 2 to replace hospitals in Moranbah, Bamaga, Normanton and Tara and health facilities in Pormpuraaw and Cow Bay
• $1.1 billion in 2022-23 for the Queensland Ambulance Service, up 11 per cent on last year
• $1.64 billion additional funding over five years for mental health, alcohol and other drugs services

The Capacity Expansion Program will deliver:

• New Coomera Hospital – $1.3 billion investment that will deliver around 404 beds
• New Toowoomba Hospital – $1.3 billion investment that will deliver around 118 beds
• New Bundaberg Hospital – $1.2 billion investment that will deliver around 121 beds
• Redcliffe Hospital Expansion – $1.06 billion investment that will deliver around 204 additional beds
• New Queensland Cancer Centre – $750 million investment that will deliver around 150 beds
• Ipswich Hospital Expansion Stage 2 – $710 million investment that will deliver around 200 additional beds
• Logan Hospital Expansion Stage 2 – $530 million investment that will deliver around 112 additional beds
• Townsville University Hospital Expansion – $530 million investment that will deliver around 143 additional beds
• QEII Hospital Expansion – $465 million investment that will deliver around 112 additional beds
• Princess Alexandra Hospital Expansion – $350 million investment that will deliver around 249 additional beds
• Prince Charles Hospital Expansion – $300 million investment that will deliver around 93 additional beds
• Cairns Hospital Expansion – $250 million investment that will deliver around 96 additional beds
• Mackay Hospital Expansion – $250 million investment that will deliver around 128 additional beds
• Hervey Bay Hospital Expansion – $40 million expansion that will deliver around 35 additional beds
• Robina Hospital Expansion – lease arrangement that will deliver around 114 additional beds

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the State Budget would support strong growth in the health workforce.

“Along with our significant investment in new hospitals and facilities, this year’s Budget provides $6.78 billion in additional operational funding over the next four years to deliver on our commitment to employ an extra 9475 staff in this term of government,” Minister D’Ath said.

“Investment in our healthcare workforce is vital – they are our greatest asset, and the reason Queenslanders continue to receive first-class healthcare every day.”

Minister D’Ath said the budget included $1.1 billion for the QAS, an 11 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year.

“The investment will help the service prioritise regional and rural services to ensure accessible healthcare no matter the location, as well as recruit more frontline staff, and open new facilities,” she said.

“Modernising the QAS will ensure the service continues to meet the healthcare needs of Queenslanders now and into the future.”

Minister D’Ath said the budget was injecting an additional $1.64 billion into the state over five years to improve mental health and wellbeing and combat substance abuse.

“It’s an opportunity to dedicate resources and funding to support initiatives under a new five-year plan for mental health, alcohol, and other drug services, Better Care Together,” Minister D’Ath said.

“Also, the QAS will commission an additional four Mental Health Co-responder services in the Darling Downs, Mackay, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast areas.

“It means services across the spectrum, from community based through to crisis support and response, more mental health workers where and when they are needed, and technology solutions to better integrate care across healthcare settings.

“These investments will alleviate pressure on the acute mental health system.

“We know that growing our health workforce is key to tackling the unprecedented demand in our public hospitals.”

For more information about the State Budget visit budget.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008