BRISBANE, Queensland, Aug. 14 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services

The Honourable Tim Nicholls

* Statewide ambulance rampinghas dropped to its lowest levelsince theCOVIDera- at 35.5 per cent -as the Crisafulli Government continues to heal Labor's Health Crisis. * The elective surgerywaitlist alsoremainsstable and lower than the peak of 66,632 after Labor's decade of decline. * The new data comes as the Crisafulli Government reveals construction on the $430 millionAeromedical Precinct has reached anexcitingnewmilestone. * Under the former Labor government, the precinct was at risk of failing to launch due to a lack of planning and consultation. * TheCrisafulli Government has reduced ramping,stabilisedthe elective surgery waitlist, and is delivering critical health infrastructure, including three new hospitals and 10 expansions through its fully-fundedHospital Rescue Plan.

Ambulance ramping hasfallento its lowest quarterlyratesince 2020,as the Crisafulli Government continues to heal Labor's Health Crisis.

NewQueensland Health data shows ramping acrossthe Statedropped to 35.5 per cent in the June quarter - the lowest since December 2020 -whenthe revolving door of failed Labor health ministers saw Steven Miles replaced by Yvette D'Ath.

Both the Gold Coast University (20.1 per cent) and Robina Hospitals (11.6 per cent) recorded theirlowestquarterlyramping ratesin more than a decade, achieving the best results since before Labor waselectedin 2015.

Other major hospitals also showingtheirbiggestimprovementsin quarterly rampingsince theCOVIDera, included:

* Gympie, 21.6 per cent - Lowest since June 2020; * Nambour, 23.9 per cent - Lowest since June 2020; * Queensland Children's Hospital, 13.9 per cent - Lowest since December 2020; * Redcliffe Hospital, 28.9 per cent - Lowest since June 2020; * Rockhampton Hospital, 32.3 per cent - Lowest since June 2020; * Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, 40.9 per cent - Lowest since September 2020

During the former Labor Government's decade of decline - which created Queensland's Health Crisis - ambulance ramping skyrocketed to a record high of 45.5 per cent, while the elective surgery waitlist blew out to a high of 66,632.

The Crisafulli Government'sfully-fundedHospital Rescue Planis delivering more beds and new and expanded hospitals to further reduce ambulance ramping, after Labor's failed Capacity Expansion Program ballooned by billions of dollars under the chaos and crisis of the former Government.

TheEasier Access to Health Servicesplan has also seen the elective surgery waitlist stabilised, withQueensland Healthstatewidedata from June showingaslight reductionto58,912.

The new figures come asanother major health infrastructure project reaches a pivotal milestone, with construction oftheCrisafulli Government's$430 millionAeromedical Precinctat Brisbane Airportofficially at thehalfwaypoint.

The precinct is a key part of theGovernment's commitment to deliver easier access to health services for all Queenslanders, no matter where they live, withthe hub to be home to emergency services flying in sick and injured patients from across the state.

Retrieval Services Queensland,QGAir, LifeFlight and the Royal Flying Doctors Service will all be basedin the18,700m2purpose-built facility, which is being constructed in partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation.

Already, more than 700 tonnes of steel, 2,500 piles and 300 tilt panels have been used sincethe Crisafulli Government kicked offconstruction in 2025, more than three years after it was originally announced -and then allowed to stall -by the former Labor Government.

Under the former Labor Government, the cost of the project had also blown out in excess of 600 per cent - from $60.2 million to $430 million - and a 20-year lease had been locked in without either Queensland Health or the Queensland Police Service being consulted on their operation requirements.

This led to catastrophic failures like four of the five planned hangars unable to safely accommodatean aircraftand theQGAirholding cell floor topping being too thin and a risk of being broken off and used as a weapon.

The shocking revelations about this project weresimilar tothosemade inanindependent review of Labor's failed Capacity Expansion Program, whichfound not one of their hospitalprojectscould be delivered within its original timeline or budget.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government wasdelivering thefully-fundedHospital Rescue Planto further reduce ambulance ramping, stabilise the elective surgery waitlist,and heal Labor's Health Crisis.

"The statewide ambulance ramping level at its lowest in six years show ourplan to diagnose, treat and health Labor's Health Crisis is delivering positive earlyresultsbut we know there is more work to be done," Minister Nicholls said.

"Ourfully-fundedHospital Rescue Planis strengthening the health system now and for the future, so Queenslanders can access the care they need, when they need it.

"TheAeromedical Hubwas at risk of becomingpart of Labor's shameful history of delivering headlines without substance, withrushedplanning andlittle consultation.

"Just like we're healing Labor's Health Crisis, we've saved this valuable project and got itback on track to ensure regional Queenslanders continue to have access to ourvitalemergency aeromedical services."

Ministerfor Police and Emergency ServicesDan Purdie said Labor had announced the project butfailed tolisten tothefrontline services whooperatetheselifesavingaircraftevery day.

"As a result, Queensland Police were left with a facility that didn't adequately support operational requirements and had significant design issues," Minister Purdie said.

"We've listened and we'vetaken action to ensurethis facilityis built properly and responsibly so our lifesaving air services havea newhome that willaccommodatethem well into thefuture."

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:Torny Miller, 0439 426 196

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.