- Queensland leads the nation when it comes to elective surgery performance.
- This achievement has been made with a national-leading program called Surgery Connect, which uses private hospitals to treat public patients.
- Almost 24,000 patients were referred to the Surgery Connect program in the 2023-34 financial year.
The Miles Government’s is leading the way with elective surgery waitlist across the nation, in part because of our $100 million Surgery Connect program.
This statewide program, which is the only one of its kind in the country, enables public patients to receive healthcare at a private hospital when needed, allowing them to stay closer to home without incurring any costs for treatment and medical services.
Between July 2023 and March 2024, the Queensland Health system delivered more than 110,000 elective surgeries including life-changing gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and ear, nose, and throat surgeries for Queenslanders.
This outstanding performance means that Queensland is leading the nation when it comes to elective surgery, with almost 80 per cent of patients treated within clinically recommended timeframes.
Alongside this achievement, the successful Surgery Connect program and HHS Direct pathways saw almost 24,000 (23,885) patients, nearly double the number recorded at the same time last year (12,263).
The Program currently connects 12 Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) with 19 private providers across 57 private hospitals, extending from Cairns to the Gold Coast.
The highest volume of outsourced treatments to private facilities in the past financial year was 5,180 for essential ophthalmology surgery.
Gastroenterology (2,350), orthopaedic (2,340), ear nose and throat surgery (2,090), urology (1,740), general surgery (1,550) and gynaecology (1,450) were also privately provided to public patients under the program last financial year, alleviating pressure on the public system.
In March 2024, the program expanded to include gastrointestinal endoscopy services to support bowel cancer screening statewide.
As stated by the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman:
“The Surgery Connect program has been making a huge difference to the lives of Queenslanders needing essential healthcare for 17 years.
“We know that by partnering with provide providers, we can reduce patient wait lists and, in some cases, treat Queenslanders closer to home.
“It means thousands of Queenslanders can get the surgeries and healthcare they needed sooner.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the hardworking doctors and nurses across the state who’ve contributed to these fantastic results.
“Queensland’s high performance is the envy of the nation, with other states now looking to improve their own healthcare with similar programs.
“I’m proud that the Miles Government is prioritising the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders and delivering the care they need and deserve, closer to home.”
As stated by Surgery Connect patient Vicki Mitchell:
“I had the cataract removed from my left eye at the start of the year after noticing it was getting harder to drive at night.
“The PA Hospital doctor mentioned the Surgery Connect pathway and that it would mean I could get my surgery faster.
“I used to work at Greenslopes Private Hospital for 14 years, so it was nice to go back and receive wonderful care there.
“Being able to access this surgery with no out-of-pocket expenses as a pensioner has meant the world.”
