Australia invests $1.2b to cut Queensland’s elective surgery waiting times

The funding includes $834m (A$1.27b) for the Surgery Connect programme.

The Australian government is set to invest $1.2b (A$1.2b) over four years to stabilise the elective surgery waiting list in Queensland.

The funding includes $834m (A$1.27b) for the Surgery Connect programme, which plans to deliver an additional 30,000 elective surgeries in 2025–26.

These procedures will include hip and knee replacements and cataract surgeries.

The government also plans to add over 2,600 beds across the state, build three new hospitals, expand 10 existing hospitals, and upgrade health and ambulance facilities through the “Hospital Rescue Plan”.

Moreover, the budget provides for growing the state’s workforce by 46,000 health professionals by 2032, including over 4,500 additional staff in the coming year.

A$1 = $0.66