Minister for Health and Ambulance Services The Honourable Tim Nicholls

08 July 2026

MEDIA STATEMENT: More Queenslanders to receive life-changing surgery sooner

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering more than 25,000 elective surgeries through the Surgery Connect Program, following a $247 million investment in the 2026-27 Budget. 
• The investment builds on the success of Surgery Connect, which has delivered more than 35,000 procedures since February 2025 and helped stabilise Queensland’s elective surgery waitlist down 8,136 from Labor’s peak.
• The record $35.5 billion Health Budget is strengthening the foundations for a fresh start, with the fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan delivering new and expanded hospitals across Queensland, providing more than 2,600 additional beds and world class healthcare closer to home. 
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services and healing Labor’s Health Crisis.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering more Queenslanders life-changing surgery sooner, with a $247 million investment in the 2026-27 Budget to deliver more than 25,000 surgeries through Surgery Connect.

The funding will support thousands of additional procedures across Queensland, including cataract surgery, joint replacements, ear, nose and throat procedures and other high-demand operations that restore mobility, independence and quality of life for Queenslanders.

It forms part of the Crisafulli Government’s record $1.8 billion investment in elective surgery, which has already delivered more than 35,000 additional procedures through Surgery Connect – more than double the number completed during the same period under the former Labor Government. 

This milestone comes as Queensland’s elective surgery waitlist has fallen to just 58,496 after a decade of Labor decline saw the list skyrocket year-on-year to a high of 66,632.  

Joining the Surgery Connect program are 11 new service providers across regions including the Gold Coast, Brisbane South, Townsville, Mackay, Wide Bay, Toowoomba and Brisbane North bringing the total number of contracted providers to 32 working in partnership with Queensland Health to deliver more elective surgeries sooner. 

The Crisafulli Government is healing Labor’s Health Crisis, with new health data also showing Queensland’s ambulance ramping rate fell to 34.5 per cent in April 2026 – the lowest level since January 2021.  

This result comes after the former Labor government allowed the ramping rate to spiral out of control as a result of multiple failed former Health Ministers, reaching 45.5 per cent during their last year in office.  

The Crisafulli Government is delivering more free healthcare than ever before and health services when Queenslanders need them, with the fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan to deliver three new and ten expanded hospitals after Labor’s failed Capacity Expansion Program left Queensland’s health system on life support. 

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said Surgery Connect was delivering real results for Queenslanders who had spent too long waiting for care under Labor.

“Every surgery delivered through Surgery Connect is a Queenslander getting their life back sooner,” Minister Nicholls said.

“When we came to government, Labor had left Queenslanders waiting too long for surgery and our hospitals under immense pressure.

“We are turning that around. This $247 million investment will deliver thousands more surgeries and procedures, ensuring more Queenslanders can access the care they need sooner.

“By continuing to partner with private hospitals and healthcare providers, we are delivering easier access to health services, reducing wait times and fixing Labor’s Health Crisis.”