- The Crisafulli Government is delivering one new and six expanded transit lounges to improve patient care and ease pressure at some of the State's busiest hospitals.
- The services in Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Logan, Redland City, Townsville and Ipswich hospitals will all be operational by the end of 2026, with some coming online later this year.
- Delivering Transit Lounges in hospitals was a key commitment election commitment and frees up critical inpatient beds for emergency care, helping reduce ambulance ramping, while allowing patients to leave hospital when they're ready to.
- After 10 years of decline, the Crisafulli Government is delivering health services where and when you need them to help heal Labor's Health Crisis.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering one new and six expanded transit lounges to help ease pressure on some of the State's busiest emergency departments and restore health services when you need them.
A new transit lounge will be built at Gladstone Hospital, while expansions will go ahead at Cairns Hospital, Townsville University Hospital, Mackay Base Hospital, Logan Hospital, Redland Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.
All the transit lounges will be operational by late 2026, and additional frontline healthcare workers will be hired to support the facilities.
As part of the Crisafulli Government's key election commitment to address Labor's Health Crisis including ambulance ramping, the initiative will deliver an additional 27 beds and 30 treatment chairs across the seven hospitals, which are home to some of the State's busiest emergency departments.
10 years of decline under Labor left the State's health system on life support, and the Crisafulli Government delivering a fresh start by restoring health services when Queenslanders need them most.
These transit lounge projects, which run alongside the works being done under the Crisafulli Government's Hospital Rescue Plan, are the first tranche of an $80 million investment through the Easier Access to Health Services Plan.
They will provide dedicated interim treatment areas for patients awaiting discharge, admission or transfer, or for outpatient appointments and are an important part of the Crisafulli Government's long-term strategy to reduce ambulance ramping rates, which were allowed to soar during Labor's decade of decline.
The Crisafulli Government has committed to reducing ramping rates to below 30 per cent by 2028.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said transit lounges were a vital link in the patient journey, ensuring emergency departments were not overwhelmed and care was provided in the right setting at the right time.
"We are delivering health services when you need them including new and expanded transit lounges in busy hospitals to help reduce ambulance ramping," Minister Nicholls said.
"Our public hospitals do a tremendous job caring for people in need, but it's no secret they have been struggling during Labor's Health Crisis.
"This will mean patients can get treatment sooner and won't be delayed from leaving when they're ready to, while at the same time others can get the treatment they need in our Emergency Departments and hospitals.
"After Labor's decade of decline, this investment in transit lounges will be a game changer."
