The latest investment will help in boosting the hospitals’ existing capacities to manage patient flow. Credit: Studio Romantic / Shutterstock.

Australia’s Queensland Government has announced plans to invest A$88.6m ($58.3m) to expand hospital beds, enhance services, and bolster the workforce in response to a statewide surge in respiratory illnesses. 

Currently, Queensland is facing its highest influenza admissions in over five years, with Queensland Health expecting the season to continue intensifying for several more weeks, the government said.

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Meanwhile, statewide emergency departments (ED) have also reported a significant increase in cases of respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu and Covid-19.

Across the state, there are presently 346 people hospitalised with influenza A, including 137 individuals aged five to 64, 28 children under five years, and 181 patients aged 65 and older.

The surge in winter virus admissions has strained hospital capacity, which was already challenged by a high number of long-stay patients, the government added. 

The latest investment, which will help boost the existing capacities to manage patient flow, will be utilised for supporting different initiatives such as the expansion of ‘Home’ programme and offering extra resources to support ED triaging.

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It will provide 99 new beds, including 15 interim care beds along with contracted beds in the private sector, in south-east Queensland region to cater to patients in need of long stays.

The funding will extend the operational hours of Minor Injury and Illness Clinics situated on the Gold Coast region to now run round-the-clock while until 10pm in the Caloundra area.

Queensland Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service Minister and Women Minister Shannon Fentiman said: “Respiratory illnesses have been severe right across Queensland this year, which, coupled with our high number of long-stay patients, has placed extreme pressure on our hospitals.

“This investment will allow our long-stay patients waiting for federally funded aged care and NDIS beds to be transferred to lower care settings, freeing up beds in the hospitals so that our sickest patients can be seen.

“We plan for intense periods like this every year, but what we are seeing this year is extraordinary demand, which is why we are investing in more beds and more resources.”

The investment builds on the state government’s A$1.14bn commitment under the ‘Putting Patients First’ plan, which includes various initiatives aimed at enhancing hospital patient flow.