More elective surgeries for Toowoomba under $247 million health investment

More Toowoomba residents will be able to access life-changing elective surgery sooner, with the Crisafulli Government investing $247 million to expand Surgery Connect and appoint a new provider in Toowoomba to help reduce waiting times.

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. 
 
“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. 

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. 

“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.”