IPSWICH patients waiting for elective surgery are set to receive treatment sooner as part of a $49.5 million statewide funding boost aimed at reducing Queensland’s hospital waitlists.
The investment is expected to deliver around 5,600 additional procedures across the state, with more than 4,300 surgeries performed through the Surgery Connect program, allowing public patients to be treated in private hospitals at no cost.
Patients in Ipswich and the broader West Moreton region are among those expected to benefit, particularly those waiting for procedures in high-demand specialties such as ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat, urology and orthopaedics.
The funding builds on the record $1.75 billion investment in elective surgery over four years, with the State Government saying reforms introduced since mid-2025 have already reduced the elective surgery waiting list by more than seven per cent in one year.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the additional funding would help people get back to everyday life sooner.
“Waitlists are not just figures on a piece of paper — they represent everyday Queenslanders who need procedures and surgeries to improve their lives, or in many cases, to save their lives,” he said.
“This funding will help more people receive vital care sooner, including cataract surgery, knee or hip replacements, and procedures for children such as tonsil or adenoid removal.”
Since July, more than 13,000 patients have received surgery through Surgery Connect, a 131 per cent increase on the same period last year.
The State Government said the funding would be delivered through the Surgery Connect program and local Hospital and Health Services, including West Moreton Hospital and Health Service, which services Ipswich and surrounding communities.
