The Queensland Government has highlighted growth in the Sunshine Coast health workforce following recent concerns over hospital funding and staffing.
The government said the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service now has 154 more doctors, 276 more nurses and midwives and 125 more allied health workers than it did in November 2024, contributing to a statewide increase of more than 10,000 Queensland Health workers over the same period.
The announcement follows last week’s parliamentary estimates hearing, where Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service chief executive Dr Peter Gillies said the service was receiving 3.5 per cent growth funding in 2026–27, after being questioned about demand growth of about 6 per cent a year. He said the service would work to meet demand within its funding allocation.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls told the hearing the service would receive an additional $71.2 million in the 2026–27 budget and an additional workforce of 413 employees, saying the government was investing to rebuild the health workforce.
The hearing was followed by criticism from Labor, which argued the Sunshine Coast needed more growth funding to keep pace with its rapidly growing population and warned health services would face increasing pressure.
In Monday’s media statement, Mr Nicholls said the workforce announcement was an important step towards the government’s commitment to recruit an additional 46,000 health workers by 2032.
“Employing more health professionals is just one part of the solution and we will be doing all we can to attract and retain doctors, nurses, midwives, ambulance officers, allied health workers and other health workers to Queensland Health, especially to the areas they are needed most,” he said.
He said the government’s Hospital Rescue Plan and a stronger health workforce were central to addressing Queensland’s growing and ageing population.
Caloundra MP Kendall Hatcher said the additional staff would benefit the Sunshine Coast community.
“This milestone is about ensuring our growing community has health services they can rely on, when they need it,” she said.
“It means there are more doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals in our hospitals and reaffirms the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to ensuring locals have better access to healthcare.”
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