- The Crisafulli Government expands Rockhampton Hospital's Emergency Department, with nine new acute treatment spaces.
- Expanded Emergency Department contains a new fast track area for non-complex cases, to improve patient flow.
- Additional nurses and health staff will be recruited to support the new treatment spaces.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services for Central Queensland, with new patient flow initiatives and an expanded Emergency Department at Rockhampton Hospital.
Nine extra Emergency Department treatment spaces have been delivered to increase capacity for patients needing urgent care including seven beds, two recliner treatment chairs, as well as an additional consultation and treatment room.
A new emergency fast track area has 12 new treatment areas, in the space vacated by the Orthopaedic Clinic, which relocated to a new purpose-built facility in June.
Fast track is a specialised area within the Emergency Department for non-complex cases such as sprains and strains, minor cuts, ear and tooth pain, respiratory infections, and superficial burns.
To support these new spaces, additional nurses and operational staff will be recruited.
Under the former Labor Government, Rockhampton Hospital's ramping rate reached a high point of 56 per cent in 2023 – the worst in regional Queensland, when Queensland had the worst ambulance ramping in the nation.
The Crisafulli Government is working to diagnose, treat and cure Labor's Health Crisis, with green shoots already showing in key statistics such as ramping in Rockhampton which is now at 38.6 per cent.
The Crisafulli Government's 2025-26 Budget is delivering a fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan, with $95 million to build the new Health Sciences Academy to train the next generation of health workers, a Step-Up, Step-Down mental health service for Rockhampton and master planning for upgrades at the Rockhampton Hospital.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the expansion provided additional capacity for Rockhampton Hospital's hard-working Emergency Department staff, while master-planning for a longer-term solution is finalised.
"The Crisafulli Government's fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan is delivering easier access to health services for Central Queensland, and sets a clear path forward for the delivery of more than 2,600 beds across the State," Minister Nicholls said.
"Labor had 10 years to address the problems at Rockhampton Hospital, but they never even started, despite the desperate and last-minute promises at the last election.
"The investment in a new Orthopaedic Clinic outside of the Emergency Department has freed up this much needed space to relieve some of the pressure."
Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland welcomed the additional treatment spaces, saying local residents had been crying out for a bigger and better Emergency Department for the past decade.
"It's not acceptable to leave patients waiting, or even worse, being treated in corridors because the ED is bursting at the seams – but this is Labor's legacy," Ms Kirkland said.
"While the Crisafulli Government progresses master-planning for Central Queensland, today's announcement will come as relief to many."
