The Crisafulli Government is delivering one new and six expanded transit lounges to help ease pressure on some of the State’s busiest emergency departments and restore health services when locals need them. A new transit lounge will be built at Gladstone Hospital, while expansions will go ahead at Cairns Hospital, Townsville University Hospital, Mackay Base Hospital, Logan Hospital, Redland Hospital and Ipswich Hospital.
All the transit lounges will be operational by late 2026, and additional frontline healthcare workers will be hired to support the facilities. As part of the Crisafulli Government’s key election commitment to address the Health Crisis including ambulance ramping, the initiative will deliver an additional 27 beds and 30 treatment chairs across the seven hospitals, which are home to some of the State’s busiest emergency departments.
These transit lounge projects, which run alongside the works being done under the Crisafulli Government’s Hospital Rescue Plan, are the first tranche of an $80 million investment through the Easier Access to Health Services Plan.
They will provide dedicated interim treatment areas for patients awaiting discharge, admission or transfer, or for outpatient appointments and are an important part of the Crisafulli Government’s long-term strategy to reduce ambulance ramping rates. The Crisafulli Government has committed to reducing ramping rates to below 30 per cent by 2028.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said transit lounges were a vital link in the patient journey, ensuring emergency departments were not overwhelmed and care was provided in the right setting at the right time.
“We are delivering health services when you need them including new and expanded transit lounges in busy hospitals to help reduce ambulance ramping,” Minister Nicholls said.
“Our public hospitals do a tremendous job caring for people in need, but it’s no secret they have been struggling."
“This will mean patients can get treatment sooner and won’t be delayed from leaving when they’re ready to, while at the same time others can get the treatment they need in our Emergency Departments and hospitals.
“This investment in transit lounges will be a game changer.”
The Crisafulli Government is investing $80 million in new and expanded hospital transit lounges to ease emergency pressure and cut ambulance ramping below 30% by 2028. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara
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