News
24 February, 2025
State committs $100M to fast-track elective procedures
The State Government has announced a $100 million boost to Surgery Connect, allowing thousands of Queenslanders to receive life changing surgery.
The Surgery Connect Surge will deliver 10,000 additional elective surgeries by the end of June, utilising private sector capacity to deliver planned elective surgery within private hospitals. Additional surgeries that will be delivered faster under this program include cataract surgery, tonsil and adenoid removal, and knee replacements.
In February 2015, 27,950 Queenslanders were on the elective surgery waitlist. This number rose to 64,171 in October 2024, and the latest quarterly data reveals it has now reached 66,632 patients.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the plan would diagnose, treat, and cure the long waitlist.
“We will be working with more than 60 private partners to help deliver the boost to Surgery Connect across ENT, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urology, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology, and Plastics."
The announcement follows the launch of Open Hospitals, which releases real-time health data, available via https://openhospitals.health.qld.gov.au.
