REDLAND Hospital’s transit lounge has doubled in size under an $8.3 million upgrade expected to support more than 7000 patients a year and help improve patient flow through the busy hospital.
The expanded Transit Care Hub has increased from 12 to 19 beds, includes a dedicated minor procedure room and upgraded patient amenities, and will operate around the clock.
It is one of 10 new or upgraded transit lounges being delivered across Queensland as part of an $80 million statewide program.
The facility is designed for patients who no longer need an acute hospital bed but require short-term care, treatment or support while waiting to go home, transfer to another service or finalise discharge arrangements.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the larger hub would help patients move through the hospital more efficiently and free beds for people requiring emergency and acute care.
“Projects like this larger Transit Care Hub at Redland Hospital are delivering easier access to health care, allowing patients to move through the hospital more efficiently to ensure beds are available for patients who need emergency and acute care,” he said.
The State Government said the expanded hub would employ more than 14 full-time equivalent clinical, administrative and operational staff.
About 60 construction jobs were supported during the project’s build phase.
New quarterly health data released by the Government shows ambulance ramping at Redland Hospital fell from 65.5 per cent in the June 2025 quarter to 56.2 per cent in the June 2026 quarter — a reduction of 9.3 percentage points.
Member for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker said the former transit lounge had already been one of the hospital’s key patient-flow services, seeing more than 300 patients each month.
“This expansion is absolutely critical to improve that flow, as our community grows and more people use our hospital,” she said.
Member for Redlands Rebecca Young said the upgrade would give the hospital greater capacity and improved facilities.
“This expansion gives Redland Hospital additional space, improved facilities and greater capacity to help patients get home sooner while improving access to care for the entire Redlands community,” she said.
Member for Capalaba Russell Field said the project had also delivered local employment during construction.
