Queenslanders needing elective surgery are set to benefit from a major funding boost in the 2025‑26 State Budget after the Government announced its allocation of $1.8 billion set to roll out over the next four years.
The centrepiece is $1.27 billion for the Surgery Connect program, projected to deliver 30,000 additional procedures in 2025‑26 alone, including hip and knee replacements and cataract operations. The program has already shown results: in April the statewide wait‑list fell by 2,750 patients, the largest single‑month reduction in a decade, followed by a further drop of 1,495 in May.
Premier David Crisafulli said the funding is part of the Easier Access to Health Services Plan.
“This is more surgeries for more Queenslanders sooner, delivering the health services when they’re needed most,” he said.
“To heal Labor’s Health Crisis we’re delivering easier access to healthcare, reducing ambulance ramping, and providing more life‑changing elective surgeries.”
Health and Ambulance Minister Tim Nicholls added that the government is “continuing to work on stabilising the elective surgery wait‑list. The elective surgery wait‑list is Queenslanders waiting to receive life‑changing surgeries – and we’re delivering them sooner.”
Beyond surgery, the Budget funds a Hospital Rescue Plan that will add more than 2,600 beds, build three new hospitals and expand 10 others. Staffing will also grow, with a commitment to recruit 46,000 health professionals by 2032, including 4,500 in the next year.
Local patients and clinicians are hopeful the extra capacity will reduce waiting times and improve outcomes across the region.
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