The Queensland government has spruiked a record health spend in its state budget, but the response from health advocacy groups has been lukewarm, with the peak doctors lobby group saying the funding was needed "yesterday".
The state budget includes $9.8 billion for expanding capacity in the health system, delivering a total of 2,220 beds over six years through expansions to existing hospitals and the construction of three new ones in Bundaberg, Toowoomba and Coomera.
The government will also reallocate nearly $230 million of existing funding to add 289 beds across the Metro South, West Moreton, Gold Coast and Cairns and Hinterland hospital and health services over the next two years.