The new Queensland Government is ensuring every Queenslander can access health services when they need them. The Hospital Rescue Plan is an investment in the future of our health system, delivering more than 2,600 new beds right across metro, regional and rural Queensland – alongside more investment in a bigger health workforce.
This will be the largest investment in hospital infrastructure Queensland has ever seen. The Queensland Government’s delivery plan will build new hospitals, and upgrade and expand existing ones, to deliver the extra beds our communities need.
Right now, too many families are waiting too long to receive the health services they need, and too many healthcare workers are stretched beyond their limits. Our population is growing and ageing, and our health system must keep up.
To get this right, we’ve delivered a plan for the future, listening to clinicians, empowering local decision-making, and adhering to proper health infrastructure planning and processes.
Queenslanders deserve to have a health system they can rely on, and that’s why we’re delivering the Hospital Rescue Plan.
Read the Hospital Rescue Plan
Hospitals on life support
Failed CEP
Queensland’s hospitals are the backbone of the health system, helping our hardworking health workforce to care for more than a million people each year.
When the Capacity Expansion Program (CEP) was announced in 2022, it followed eight years of underinvestment in health infrastructure in Queensland. As our population grew, our hospitals were struggling to keep up with demand. The health system was in crisis.
Infrastructure suffered, needing $2 billion in maintenance and repair alone.
Ambulance ramping was the highest it has ever been, and unprecedented numbers of people were left lingering on surgery wait lists.
Easier access to health services across Queensland - other upgrades
From Coolangatta to the Cape, and Brisbane to Bedourie and beyond, there is investment in:
- better healthcare closer to home
- delivering more patient beds and staff accommodation
- upgraded facilities
- enhanced services
Review into the Capacity Expansion Plan
On 23 December 2024 the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services the Honourable Tim Nicholls announced an independent review of Queensland Health’s Capacity Expansion Program (CEP).
The review, by Klok Advisory Managing Director Sam Sangster, looked at all aspects of the CEP projects, including any cost and time pressures.
The Queensland Government has also released a response to the recommendations of the review.
Read the CEP independent review and the government's response to the recommendations
Queensland Government CEP independent review report [PDF 4 MB]
Queensland Government response to the CEP independent review report [PDF 90 KB]
