- The Crisafulli Government's efforts to stabilise the elective surgery waitlist are paying dividends, with the waitlist dropping for the sixth consecutive month.
- June Hospital Health Data shows the waitlist is now at 60,423.
- Longer-term downward trend emerging in ramping rates, with rates dropping 2.1 percentage points in the three months to June, compared to the same time last year.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to stabilise the elective surgery waitlist, with new figures showing a decline over two consecutive quarters.
Labor's Health Crisis saw the elective surgery waitlist increase year on year over a decade, with a record 66,632 Queenslanders on the waitlist in December 2024.
New Hospital Health Data reveals that number is now at 60,423.
The Crisafulli Government's record Health Budget committed $1.75 billion over four years towards additional surgeries, on top of the $100 million Surgery Connect Surge announced in February.
Health and Ambulance Services Minister Tim Nicholls said the Surgery Connect program, in which public hospitals partner with private sector providers, has already over-delivered on its target, with more than 12,300 Queenslanders having surgery through the program.
"The Crisafulli Government promised to stabilise the elective surgery waitlist, and these new figures show we're making great headway," Minister Nicholls said.
"After Labor allowed the elective surgery waitlist to skyrocket, our Easier Access to Health Services initiatives are paying dividends, making it easier for Queenslanders all over to the State to get the crucial surgeries they need sooner."
With flu and Covid cases peaking over winter, the latest Hospital Health Data shows an expected month-on-month rise in ambulance ramping, as hospitals across the State report higher admissions to emergency departments.
Statewide ramping rates were at 44.8 per cent in June, up 1.7 pecentage points from the previous month.
The longer-term trend, however, shows a downward trajectory, with rates sitting at 42.6 per cent for the three months to the end of June, down from 44.7 per cent for the June quarter in the previous year.
"Flu season is always challenging for our Hospital and Health Services, and it is not a surprise to see a rise in ramping rates for June, compared to the previous month," Minister Nicholls said.
"We know more work needs to be done and that's why this year's record Health Budget includes a $1 billion Budget boost for the Queensland Ambulance Service, $581.4 million for extra hospital beds and $55 million to improve patient flow."
Minister Nicholls said hospital data transparency was a key commitment of the Crisafulli Government, after Labor cut monthly data releases for quarterly releases to disguise poor performance.
"Labor routinely kept Queenslanders in the dark, refusing to share important information in a bid to make their record look better," Minister Nicholls said.
"The Crisafulli Government has brought in a new era of transparency, and we are releasing health data monthly to keep the public informed and to help us direct additional resources where they are needed most."
