The Queensland Government is delivering health services when Queenslanders need them, with a record investment into elective surgeries to stabilise the elective surgery waitlist.

$1.8 billion will be invested over four years to boost the number of elective surgeries across the state, as part of the Queensland Government’s plan for the Health Crisis.

The Queensland Government’s 2025-26 Budget builds on the successful Surgery Connect Surge, with 12,000 extra surgeries referred to the program between February and 30 June this year.  

The program was also responsible for the single largest decrease in the elective surgery waitlist in the past decade – when the wait list number dropped by 2,750 in April. The downward trend continued in May, with a further drop of 1,495.

The Queensland Government has committed to stabilising the waitlist by Christmas, restoring health services when Queenslanders need them most.

Surgery Connect is expected to deliver 30,000 elective surgeries in 2025-26 alone, including hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.

The Queensland Budget also delivers record funding to public health services with a fully funded Hospital Rescue Plan, which will provide more than 2,600 new beds statewide, three new and 10 expanded hospitals, and new and upgraded health and ambulance facilities.  

The Budget is also delivering funding to grow our health workforce by 46,000 health professionals by 2032, including more than 4,500 additional staff in the next year.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Easier Access to Health Services Plan would deliver health services when Queenslanders needed them most.

“This is more surgeries for more Queenslanders sooner, delivering the health services when they’re needed most,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“We’re delivering easier access to healthcare, reducing ambulance ramping, and providing more life changing elective surgeries.”

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Tim Nicholls said the Queensland Government was continuing to work on stabilising the elective surgery waitlist.

“The elective surgery waitlist is Queenslanders waiting to receive life-changing surgeries – and we’re delivering them sooner,” Minister Nicholls said.  

“Queenslanders have made their views known about the need for faster access to elective surgeries, and I am pleased to say this year’s Budget delivers just that.  

“During a decade, the number of Queenslanders waiting for elective surgery more than doubled, from 27,950 in February 2015 to 66,232 at the end of 2024.

“The Queensland Government’s record investment means more people will be fast-tracked through the health system to receive the care they need sooner.”